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Commentary, Blog
All commentary from October 2005 until well into 2006 has been lost and I don't know if/when it will be recovered. In October 2005, our new programmer moved new commentary to a fancy database format linked to a forum database. In mid-2006, he left to work for another company, and I switched the format back to editing my plain old HTML files, but I was unable to recover the commentary from his database. The fault is mine.
Below is commentary up to October 2005.
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October 2, 2005
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Defensive driving is a MUST
As noted elsewhere, I have seen far more fatal traffic accidents in Thailand over the past 10 years than I saw in my previous 35 years in the U.S. This October 2nd, I had my closest brush.
Before I describe this near-accident, I should note a trend I've seen lately -- speeding cars trying to pass in-between lanes. For example, just a few months ago, my wife was driving with me in the passenger seat along a 3 lane section of the Chaeng Wattana Expressway during a time of traffic when a taxi tried to straddle the striped line and pass in-between us and the adjacent car. We just suddenly felt this big push to the side. The taxi side-swiped both our car and the one next to it.
We all pulled over, and a policeman stopped briefly on a big motorcycle. The other driver, a Thai businessman, was sophisticated and polite and tried to explain to the policeman what had happened, but all the policeman was not interested in hearing anything and all he said was that we'd better settle it all ourselves or else we would all pay at the police station, and walked away. Everyone cursed the policeman except the taxi driver.
In late September, one night I was driving on a lowly lit 2-lane highway beside a truck when I suddenly noticed a pickup truck with no lights on almost slam into the back of me. It was apparent that he was trying to pass both me and the truck the same way as the taxi did, but realized at the last moment that he could not and suddenly veered to the shoulder, losing control and going off the road. He got what he deserved.
Then, on October 1st, I was driving with my daughter on the 3-lane highway just west of Bangkok going past Buddhamonthon. Again, I was next to a big truck on my left, and a big truck on my right was passing me, so that I was in-between two trucks (something I normally avoid, in case one changes lanes without seeing me). Suddenly, a pickup truck at very high speed went ZOOM! right past me. I saw him just a couple of seconds before he came in, at first incredulous about his speed and apparent intentions. As he was coming from the left, I moved a bit to the right but trying not to get too close to going under the wheels of the big truck in case he hit me hard. I was preparing for a rear blow. My daughter was asleep in the passenger seat. I think the only thing which may have saved us was that the slow-moving truck on my left was driving defensively, as he moved way onto the soft shoulder at his own risk, and ZOOM! the pickup truck squeezed in-between us.
About 5 km down the freeway, the pickup had slammed into the back of another car and the two cars were on the shoulder with the occupants arguing.
I've heard several complaints by others of crazy drivers doing similar things. It seems that passing down the center line is becoming acceptable. The police need to deal with this problem by revoking their drivers licenses and fining them heavily for "reckless driving".
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September 29, 2005
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Electronic Waste Problems,
The Great Sale is Ending for Imports of Cheap Used Computers
For many months this year, cratefuls of secondhand Japanese computers were available at certain outlets for cheap, with CPU speeds ranging from 233 to 750 MHz. However, in late September, official government notices started appearing in the shopping malls where they were sold, stating that no more such imports would be allowed and it will become illegal to sell them real soon now (then). The reason is environmental -- there are some really toxic substances in electronic waste, and Thailand's toxic waste disposal system is already overstressed.
According to my sources, the importers have changed their destinations to other countries. (I have nothing to do with this business, but as a computer consultant here since 1994, I know many vendors.)
I bought a few of these computers back when they first arrived en masse. I had some problems, such as hard disks failing after a short time, BIOS Setup in Japanese, and drivers unusually hard to find, but you get what you pay for. The biggest loss was my valuable time and productivity of staff.
Greenpeace Thailand is doing some good political and community action about e-waste, especially mobile phone and computer related.
If you need to dump electronic stuff, where do you go? Our company researched this when trying to properly dispose of some monitors and old computer stuff, but didn't get any clear and consistent answers.
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September, 2005
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A canal boat route may be back
Ten years ago, there were several klong boat routes serving commuters and which I enjoyed taking in my Siam adventure, but most of them were discontinued as expressways eased the Bangkok traffic and provided alternative routes, and sometimes because this road construction cut off the open aired klong routes.
One route is coming back, the 23 km long north-south ride from the Sukhumvit Phra Khanong Bridge to just east of the Don Muang airport (the Ying Charoen Market). This was one of my favorite routes because the canal is so calm and peaceful. (Notably, I even tok this route to the airport for quick visa run trips, with a very small backpack -- these are small boats. Had to get a motorcycle from the end.) You won't beat the traffic anymore due to the new roads, but it's a nice trip, except for the short stretch where it intersects big 'ol Klong Saen Saep.
From the Sukhumvit Phra Khanong Bridge, there is also a route going east parallel to On-Nut out past Sri Nakharin, and this route is the nicest and most scenic of all on this side of the river. Never crosses Klong Saen Saep.
My web pages on the klong boat rides was mostly written in the mid-1990s.
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August, 2005
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Still Planning the End of the CAT Monopoly
For 20 years, the Communications Authority of Thailand (CAT) has held a monopoly on the overseas calling market and the internet international links. That is set to end in December 2005, as the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) is liberalizing the market. However, the NTC hasn't yet finished the "competition code" which is supposed to be designed to prevent monopolistic practices. That's scheduled for completion in September.
If the "competition code" trully liberalizes the market, then Thailand will have a chance to compete in the global telecommunications markets, a boom future field. I've been looking forward to an end to the CAT monopoly ever since I arrived and was appalled at the laws in 1994. I always called them "the authoritarian Communications Authority of Thailand".
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August, 2005
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Duty Free Zone in Phuket?
The plan for a duty free zone in Phuket, to help Phuket recover after the tsunami, seems to be progressing a bit slowly due to poor cooperation by the Customs Department and lack of awareness of the proposed system by local shops and residents.
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August 6, 2005
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Begging in Tourist Areas Makes Big Money
Periodically, the newspapers report on government and NGO efforts to deal with beggars in tourist districts. If you just sit and watch for 15 minutes, you can estimate how much money they make each day, assuming that the average donation is 5 or 10 baht. They make thousands of baht per day. This is compared to the 150 to 200 baht per day made by construction laborers, factory workers, and department store ladies. The money isn't kept by the beggars, but is collected by their controllers, part of a protection racket.
In the August 6 edition of The Nation, it was revealed that some pitiful looking child beggars are actually paid 3000 baht per day to work for a particular racket (Silom). However, often the children and provincial poor make very little. Raids of their homes have found little in the house, but sometimes things like gambling paraphernalia.
There's a lot to be said about this, such as the sleeping puppies next to the children, and the sleeping babies in a mother's arms, both of which are usually drugged to sleep.
Don't support this by contributing to the beggars in the tourist areas. I save my donations for those sleeping on the streets or digging thru the trash who are obviously not part of any racket.
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August 6, 2005
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Thaksin speaks about the free press
Prime Minister Dr. Thaksin Shinawatra gave a speech at the 15th General Assembly of the Confederation of Asean Journalists in Bangkok. As PM Thaksin and his party operatives are constantly being criticized for their attempts to control the TV and print media, it was a remarkable speech.
Dr. Shinawatra said he was proud that Thailand's press was among the freest in the region. "This is clearly demonstrated by the local newspapers' freedom to criticize me as they please, and they often exercise such freedom with relish. ... The media's criticial analysis is crucial ... Any society with one version of the truth is condemned to go down in history [in a negative way]."
It's remarkable that Thaksin is concerned about how he will go down in history.
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August 1, 2005
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Enjoying Learning is the Key to Success
It's about time that an award winning Thai student expressed leadership about education which is opposite the rote Thai conventional wisdom, and underlines the need for reform in Thai thinking towards education.
After willing the gold metal at the International Chemistry Olympiad in Taiwan, Jesada Temaismithi revealed that he's no study maniac and does a lot of other, normal kid things besides study after school. He said that the difference between him and other kids is that he enjoys learning.
My youngest daughter is only 4 years old, yet I hear from her American teacher about how other parents in Thailand are so worried about how highly their child is scoring relative to other students. The kids get homework (which I don't require my daughter do). The Singaporean consultants who came in gave a presentation about how their education methods would mean that our children would have an advantage over other children, and be more successful in their careers (20 years later).
Is that the way to live? Is that the kind of school mentality we want? Is that what education is all about?
Khun Jesada noted that Thai students learn by rote, and forget what they learned after the exams. He said that if they enjoyed their studies, then they would be happier and would learn more.
Another Thai, who won a silver medal in the physics olympiad, said "the problem is that our schools are unable to inspire students to love studying."
Countless times I've been appalled at Thai employees not figuring out problems or self-educating themselves in their own professional field, in my consulting to numerous companies. This includes Thais with degrees from top universities. They never learned to love their profession enough to excel in it, by international standards. That's why there is such a low percentage of inventors here, and a high percentage of copycats.
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July 18, 2005
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Partial Solution to Oil Imports -- And Pollution
A few weeks after doing a small engine overhaul noted in my June 23 commentary below, I've noticed not only more power but also significantly better gas mileage. I also don't need to step on the pedal as much to accelerate when a light turns green.
The current focus on reducing oil imports could also turn into a campaign to reduce pollution. It just needs some P.R. by the government.
Benefits:
- More car power -- more fun driving
- Better gas mileage -- fewer stops at petrol stations, can drive all night when they are closed, some money saved
- No more loss of face because you drive a smoky car or truck
The problem is that most car mechanics will probably tell you that you need 30,000 baht of engine work -- as several told me! -- instead of the mere 8000 baht for my engine (plus I did additional work for another 2500 baht) which an honest mechanic told me. He also offered to open the engine for a small fee to make sure.
The government could start with its own buses. Other incentives could be applied to licenses for private firms.
For this to be successful, the government will need to appoint a working group of engineers who truly understand the technical issues, not just government cronies ready to go on the take for exempting the establishment and other means of graft.
Think about this every time you are at a red light turning green whereby the vehicles in front of you must step on the pedal and belch smoke just to get their vehicle to accelerate sufficiently.
"Save oil, save the environment, and save face!" Also, more power to you!
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July 6, 2005
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Deafening Noise and the Public Health Ministry - A Beginning
Great news, after 10 years of my hoping -- The Public Health Ministry is finally starting to implement a plan to reduce deafening noise in Thailand, though it is focussed only on entertainment places at this time.
Damage to hearing is fairly well documented in scientific research surveying humans who spend time in loud places.
At exhibitions for the general public, I am appalled at ladies on microphones with loudspeakers promoting their booth ... next to others competing for volume ... with many others in the same area. Even in standalone displays, they still have that same "standard" volume which feels well over 100db.
At my daughter's school, in the morning it's deafening exercise music with the adult leader leading over the microphone. I complained that it's so terribly excessive, but it was very difficult to convince the administrators to do more than just try to placate me at the moment. It's so excessively unnecessary, indeed inconsiderate and thoughtless, just a copycat mindless "standard" here.
I believe that people get hearing damage, and then they NEED the higher volume, which gives them further hearing damage, which then requires even higher volume ...
His Majesty The King expressed concern about damage to the hearing of young people in his annual address to the nation last December, which got the Public Health Ministry moving. The campaign is "90 Decibels, Healthy Ears". This should set a new "standard".
The threshold for hearing damage is believed by some scientists to be around 85 decibels more-or-less (stated simply; it's more complicated than this).
In a nationwide survey, over 30% of entertainment venues had noise levels exceeding 90 decibels. Many entertainment spots were given repeated warnings but afterwards there were still dozens who had noise levels ranging between 121 and 144 decibels! (The Nation, July 6)
I've always put tissue in my ears when visiting loud places.
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July 1, 2005
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Thai Families and Cultural Stability
Reader's Digest did a survey of teenagers in Asia having them grade their parents in many ways. Thais rated their parents the highest, with a rating of 89. Close behind were the Muslim countries Malaysia (83) and Indonesia (85), while mainly Catholic Filipinos were at 80. Singapore, reknown for its government morality social engineering, was at 73. At the bottom of the pack were Hong Kong (58) and Taiwan (53).
What it all means -- how the survey can be interpreted -- is all up for debate, of course.
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June 23, 2005
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Getting the Car Fixed
If you have an older car needing repairs or maintenance, or are considering buying a used car for cheap, then this section is for you.
In US cities, car mechanics are often rip-offs, and if you want something done right, you must either do it yourself, or else closely supervise it. In Thailand, the typical car mechanic is honest, especially in the suburbs and provinces, but I've nonetheless experienced some real ripoffs and bad service, especially in the center of Bangkok.
Some of the benefits of car repair in Thailand are:
- Much lower cost of labor
- Lower cost of many parts
- Unlike in the U.S., you can enter the garage and inspect work (no tort insurance excuses to keep you out)
The challenges are:
- Communications -- language barriers
- Quality of some parts
- Some shops see a foreigner and increase the price and alleged problems (especially in hustle-bustle inner Bangkok)
The skills levels are approximately the same between the US and Thailand (just my experiences).
If your mechanic doesn't speak excellent English, then your Thai vocabulary will be stretched in talking shop. As our company has a translation and interpreter division, and also engineering dictionaries, it's not too difficult for me, but I can imagine difficulties for others.
This time, I went in for engine work on my old 1994 Ford Festiva, because smoke was coming out of the exhaust, enough to be irritating to people behind and in the environment of my car. Further, being a foreigner, it's an exceptionally bad example to be contributing to the air pollution in Thailand.
Being busy, I had made some mistakes before by delegating car repair to people who knew just enough to be dangerous -- two referrals to hotshot Thais, in turn with strong recommendations to particular garages. Both had come back with bad news and 30,000 baht quotations to stop the smoke. One shop had a fluent English speaking technician call me back, but I refused the engine work when I sensed some dodginess in his responses to my detailed questions.
A couple of months ago, I had stopped into car repair shops to get my air conditioner fixed, rather urgently. Based on the hot shots' recommendations, two previous shops had "fixed" the air conditioning -- and failed (air conditioning worked for only a few days with one, and two weeks after the other). I went out myself and found a shop and owner I liked, their processes were fairly proper and systematic, and they fixed the air con. They also said they could probably stop my smoky exhaust for just 8000 baht, and started by saying that major engine work was usually NOT required. After two months, the a/c still worked, so I went back to consider the engine work, too.
Taking apart an engine is a lot of fun -- when someone else is doing the hand and muscle work. (It reminded me of my fond memories of working on my cars during my university years and early professional life when finances were tight but I had more time.) Nonetheless, it is always a bit scary when your engine has been taken apart and spread out. (I was glad to not need to remember how to put it back together.)
Upon inspection, it was clear all I needed was new piston rings and valve work. Add on a few other things while everything's taken apart (including timing belt), and the total was 10,000 baht. The other shops had grossly exaggerated the engine repairs needed. Three of the 4 cylinders were smooth, and one had just a very slight scratch (groove) which you could barely feel with your finger, not significant. No need to rebore, no need for inserts, no need for new pistons...
A couple of days later, the engine looked and sounded beautiful, and once on the road I was amazed at the extra power! I had totally forgotten about the power from the early years, after it had slowly slipped away.
Before I met this shop, I had replaced my wheel bearings (I had one loose wheel) at a shop near my home, only to have them go bad again 6 months later. Probably cheap Chinese parts and BS, or bad lubrication. The Thai salesperson spoke fluent English, having lived and worked in the Middle East for many years for an American company.
I've had some really bad attempts to rip me off. For example, I brought my car into the official Ford service center to get the belts replaced, which were worn, loose and squealing, but nobody spoke English. A few hours later, I was called by someone who speaks English and told that I need a new alternator, at just under 10,000 baht total. I said "No", to just replace the belts (at a tiny fraction the cost), and that I knew my stuff -- the belts were just worn out and loose. The alternator's still fine 5 years later, so it was total BS indeed.
My wife has a Toyota and her Toyota service center has never tried to rip her off, always good service and reasonably priced. I trust them and they save me time.
There is a section in Thailand Guru on owning and driving a car in Thailand, but it didn't have any subsection on car repairs ... until I added this commentary piece.
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June 23, 2005
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Thailand Guru has started gearing up for updates to the website, by assigning staff to update and maintain it.
This section will include:
- Personal opinions and interpretations
- Personal experiences
This is a more informal commentary section. For comparison, the "News" section will focus on national and local things as they happen, and the "News" section will also list ALL updates to this website. This Commentary section may list SOME updates as they relate to the Commentary.
As of June 23, 2005, I am committed to update this section at least once a week now, and probably several times per week. (I've never made this commitment before.)
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Ecstasy Causes Brain Damage
Countless times, we have met people who have taken ecstasy, or their girlfriend has, and every time they were completely unaware that it causes brain damage. When I discuss the results of scientific studies, I get one of three reactions:
- Acceptance of what I say, with interest and without resistance
- Rejection, and they'd rather believe their own wishful thinking, or their friends beliefs without basis, than believe objective scientific research -- and rejection of me, the messenger
- Partial or polite rejection, like "it depends on the person" (with no basis for this claim that there are significant physiological differences between people, beyond the psychological), and perhaps they think they have lucky genes (again, no basis, just wishful thinking)
The effects on laboratory animal brains is clear. But what about human performance by tests?
Several peer-reviewed scientific studies ("peer reviewed" means it went up against a panel of objective critics before being approved for publishing) have followed the mental performance of two groups of partygoers, those who take ecstasy and those who don't. Those who take ecstasy have quite significant degradation in performance of mental tasks over time, unlike those who don't take the drug. Further, autopsies of ecstasy takers who died by accidents clearly shows the damage to brain cells, and it shows that humans are not much different than monkeys. Even furthermore, the process in which ecstasy works, and how it damages your brain, is understood in fairly thorough detail. The damage is partly permanent, i.e., does not go away after years off of the drug.
I hope that this announcement will prevent some people from incurring brain damage (especially with groups of friends who all believe and say that ecstasy is harmless, a groupthink wishful thinking), and people who have already taken ecstasy will stop.
Notably, the vast majority of people I know who go to late night entertainment places do NOT use ecstasy, and I do NOT believe that early closing will significantly reduce ecstasy intake. Education like the above will.
It's also remarkable that people who don't use ecstasy or speed (for exactly the same reasons I never have) have the general impression that there's not really much of it out there, though they sometimes know some people who do use it, a small fraction, particularly some Thai girlfriends of friends, or Thai lady acquaintances. On the other hand, some guys seem a bit dodgy when I raise this issue, making me wonder whether maybe they might use ecstasy and/or speed themselves, and these people also have the impression that drugs are everywhere and most other nightgoers take drugs. Birds of a feather flock together, and many people think that the world is like their peer group.
See also my article in the Health section on drugs, though it is a few years outdated now.
New regulations on early closing
As noted in the News section (and I'll summarize in this paragraph): The Cabinet has approved new regulations requiring new entertainment venues to close at midnight, except in designated zones. Many places all over Thailand currently close at 1am to 2am, and they can continue to do so if they had a license prior to January 13.
The current set of regulations is part of a process that's been going on under the new government for a few years now. The Entertainment Venue Act went into effect in early January, but it doesn't establish specific times. Who does? The Interior Ministry and the police. It remained flexible.
After years of wrangling, 3 zones have been designated in Bangkok: Patpong and parts of Ratchadapisek and Petchburi Roads. Sukhumvit (including Nana and Soi Cowboy) are still outside the zoning. This means that new places on Sukhumvit and elsewhere outside the zones will be subject to the new regulations, but existing places will not.
Hopefully, new places that start up outside the zones will try something new & different: early OPENING times. Discotheques are a favorite venue for a lot of people including myself, but we don't go because discos in Bangkok open at ridiculously late hours -- starting sometime between 10pm and midnight!! (The sun sets around 6:30 year-round in tropical Thailand.) The vast majority of us who work standard business hours cannot stay up that late. Thus, I rarely go to discos in Thailand, whereas I could in the U.S.
Even many bars don't open until 7pm. I quit work around 5pm and if a place isn't open then I'm not waiting around two hours! I'll either go home or somewhere else.
There is room for new businesses, as they would make money providing the exact same services if their hours would cater to the greater numbers of successful people who leave work at 5pm. It would be a great way to chill out until traffic goes down. As for the owners, the early bird would get the worms. It's also an opportunity to differentiate one's business in the market.
Most people start winding down at home around 9pm, and are asleep sometime between 10pm and midnight, myself included. If someone were to open up an evening lounge named "Traffic" at 5pm together with a disco lighting up at 6:30pm with good beats, I'd go with my office mates and meet work associates there!
My opinion on early closing was not strong either way. I feel sorry for:
- the good entertainment business owners and their employees who have nothing to do with the questionable side of Thailand
- the tourists
- late night people who just want to go out for a late night meal and a beer at local restaurants and street stalls
On the other hand, I also know that Bangkok's very late "standard" of hours has some negative effects on Thai society. Many members of the public complained about the spread of the nighttime entertainment venues into their suburban areas. I know because I live in the suburbs and have been active in various communities.
Asian Flu
Asian bird flu continues to be a hot topic in the press which should be put into proper perspective, especially as people have stopped eating chicken and travel bookings are down.
As regards risk of eating a bad chicken, it's quite small, and even if you do, if the bad chicken is cooked to just 70 degrees Celsius (or 158 Fahrenheit) then the virus is destroyed anyway. You normally cook your meat anyway, right?
Bird flu is a most serious concern theoretically, but at present it's way down the list of risks you take every day. Worldwide, only about 20 people are confirmed dead from the flu, and these are mostly people who slaughtered chickens, ate raw eggs and the like. Nobody has died from eating cooked chicken. There is no indication of human to human transmission.
Higher up the risk list are just driving down the road in your car (how many people die daily this way?), various bad lifestyle habits, the many possibly cancer-causing chemicals most people eat every day in most countries, other chemicals you breathe in your environment, just plain old accidents and health risks in general. Even if the worldwide death rate were 200, 2000 or 20,000, bird flu would still be way, WAY down the list and not worth worrying too much about.
Right now, the risk of a major pandemic is still just a potential one. There is no indication of human to human transmission, and if it did happen then it could probably be contained like SARS (and we're geared up for that now, having done a practice run!), or at least its spread slowed down. Why reduce your quality of life by changing your plans because of ... bird flu?
This situation reminds me of a close associate from New York who wanted to visit her family in Thailand in early 2004 but was afraid to because terrorists were hijacking airplanes. I pointed out that it has been limited to 1 day back in 2001, and she ran a bigger chance of getting gunned down by a petty robbery in New York. Statistically, flying to Thailand is far safer than driving to the airport!
Likewise, in food stalls and restaurants all over Bangkok, chicken is still not on the menu in general, and difficult to find. Yet, you can find the usual carcinogens and other sorts of unhealthy eating in abundance.
This is a display about just how little the general public understands about life, and how the sensational mass media fails to balance its reporting.
"Many officers just want positions, not responsibility"
One of the first notable quotes of February came from PM Thaksin Shinawatra in regard to government officials. A translation: "Many officers just want positions, not responsibility." (Hardly anyone noted this one.)
This is true most everywhere in the world, especially in government which is less accountable than the private sector. People want high social status and all the perks, but most political animals are incompetent at creative solutions to problems, and don't like competition by other people in that regard. Their core competency is sucking up to superiors, promoting others based on loyalty rather than competency, and channeling taxpayer money to their friends and themselves. When problems arise, they try to blame others.
Positive, creative solutions require greater intellectual class, as does putting best interests first, be they a country's, a company's, a customer's or the general public's.
Lessons learned from bird flu
The handling of the bird flu epidemic (among the birds) was typically scandalous for a government. What happened?
It's understandable that responsible politicians would not want to trigger a sensational panic before conclusive results were in, e.g., PM Thaksin said "exaggeration would damage the country's poultry exports and leave chicken farmers and workers in the field to suffer".
The problem is that they had plenty of time to get scientific results.
Politicians didn't listen to scientists, but believed in wishful thinking, and also politicized the issue in an attempt to suppress reality, which of course eventually proved futile and embarrassing, and damaged confidence in the government.
The Public Health Department didn't honor requests for results of tests.
The politicians reported cholera when they didn't really know (or else they believed only who they wanted to believe -- incompetent cronies rather than objective scientists).
When a scientist had no remaining choice but to go public, some top politicians publicly attacked her. This included Deputy Agriculture Minister Newin Chidchob (a politician previously known for shooting from the hip in a provincial way), calling her "irresponsible to the motherland". So, the proof is: which of the two was truly responsible?
Reality is not up for vote-buying or subject to good-ol-boy corruption.
The problem, I believe, is that Thaksin is no scientist and has a bunch of cronies under him. It was in this context that Thaksin said "many officers just want positions, not responsibility".
In an effort to protect chicken farmers and chicken exports by denying the reality, they made matters worse -- the flu spread to half of Thailand's provinces thereby requiring far more destruction of more chickens, more people in the chicken business are in dire straits, and more people were exposed to the chicken flu (though remarkably few caught it).
Now Thaksin is eating a lot of chicken in public, while Newin is eating his words.
Hopefully, some things will be learned from this, for the purpose of reform. Livestock must be analysed systematically and constantly for outbreaks of disease, and action taken immediately. If this process is institutionalized, then there never needs to be a big event like this again in Thailand. It's part of becoming an upper class nation.
For that, Dr. Shinawatra has taken on ultimate responsibility.
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