Archive for the 'On Our Own' Category
Of This Site’s Blocking & Unblocking
The Thai cyber patrol can actually be quite responsive and kudos to LoxInfo. Last week I got messages from readers that this site was blocked by their ISP LoxInfo. Instead of absolutelyBangkok.com a familiar frame showed up: “This URL has been blocked by a court order OR it could have an affect on or be
Read more…
WTF Thaksin Are You …?!
First divorcing your wife? Then traveling around the world and to sunny Cambodia, as a state guest, producing headline after headline, accusing your old homeland of false patriotism – and then this?! Your hand on a hot blonde’s scantily clad waist. Traitor! Holding a farang! What a life. And he was arriving by private plane.
Read more…
Quo Vadis Prathet Thai
Call me a coward. Ain’t no sacrificial lamb. Yes, I take this very personally. For the sake of peace of mind and good night’s sleep I avoid an analysis of The Times’ Thaksin interview that created a furore the moment it was published. According to the interviewer the Thai government warned not to report the
Read more…
Asian Correspondent & Bloggers’ Coming-Of-Age
Not too long ago to blog by nature was part of an underground, anti-establishment network of supposedly amateurish spin doctors and wannabe opinion makers who weren’t really read. Some made a few bucks along the way, some could garner a respectable readership, others were in for a single minute of fame, a few got established
Read more…
One Way Out
It’s pretty obvious by now that Thailand has become a de facto ungovernable state and society. One does as one pleases under the pretext of freedom and democracy. The higher up the less accountability, but even the good man John Q. Public thinks of himself first. You’d be stupid to not follow the example of
Read more…
Prostrate Thou Self
As satire, cynicism and sarcasm are hardly existent in Thailand, we have to find satire, cynicism and sarcasm in the real world. Which is actually not too difficult. Some real events here are to such an extent out of touch with common sense and what’s the norm elsewhere that they can only be understood as
Read more…
I See Red When I See Yellow
Thailand’s so called new politicians standing for – for what exactly? – once again made it possible that the kingdom featured the headlines of CNN. Citizens hunting down citizens with batons, machetes and glowing metallic eyes. While red shirts were protesting peace- and cheerfully at a Bangkok rally despite torrential rains – it’s always pouring
Read more…
Thailand Crashing? Poll
You have this nice and this ugly face of Thailand. You do not only have the first Thai head of government in living memory who’s presentable and speaks some proper English. You also have events pushing Thailand back to the Dark Ages and the high-profile fugitive who laughs of Thailand’s justice system as a joke.
Read more…
The Impossibility Of Thai Politics
Let’s face it. Any attempt in Thailand to represent the people in governance has failed miserably so far. In the heyday of Thailand’s pseudo-democracy under self service governments people didn’t mind too much, as there seemed to be enough for everyone and Thailand was a shining example above her neighbors. Today, more and more people
Read more…
Of Fascism, Wannabe-Thais & I Must Love Thaksin
And you thought writing a blog is a sure ticket to lots of new friends – not to mention all the Google AdSense income. If that’s what you think … True, a blog can develop a life of its own and nothing beats edifying comments and hints of inspiration. But had a little discussion the
Read more…