Thailand bans alcohol during election days and Buddhist holidays. Because some Thais like to drink their Whisky with Soda Water, the lovely officials are banning Soda Water on those days too. Fortunately none of the officials responsible for this ridiculous regulation is living in my neighbourhood or seems to be a visitor of the bars. Many Thais in my area are using drinking water instead of Soda Water to 'improve' their Thai Whisky, most bars are mixing orange, lemon or tomato juices with Vodka and Gin or Coke with Whisky and Rum. This stupid officials have either to lift the ban on Soda Water or strictly ban all kind of liquids during these days.

Ittipon Khunpluem has listed his policies as:

the eradication of Pattaya's red-light venues
environmental improvement
the implementation of an effective water supply for the city and Kho Larn
a 12-year free education system
low-cost housing for low income groups
a new, improved traffic system
a tramline transportation system
flood prevention
job opportunities to decrease poverty
the establishment of a drug-observation and prevention centre
the encouragement of ecotourism
the construction of a sports centre
the establishment of a tourism festival
the encouragement of world-class entertainment (Casinos?)

The new mayor was the senior adviser to the former Mayor of Pattaya and is the son of the disputed Kamnan of Bang Saen.

Water storage tanks: Anyone preparing to build a house or a commercial property in Pattaya now has to ensure that an adequate water storage tank is included in the designs for the project, otherwise Chonburi Province would withhold permission for the construction work.

What's the difference if I fill my tank today with 3000 litres of water or if I take my 100 litres every single day during the next 30 days? The water comes from the same resource(s). A water storage tank at every house can't solve Pattaya's biggest problem: The annual shortage of tap water.

Radiation processing of fruits: On February 26 2008 Chusak Chuenprayoth, head of the agricultural committee at the Thai Chamber of Commerce, said: 'Radiation may shorten the fruits' shelf life and cause radiation burns that make the fruits less attractive.' He was speaking without any basis and is misleading the masses.

The radiation processing units for fruits and vegetables are known as low dose applications (<1Kgy). They ensure that the fruits and vegetables that are processed have the maximum shelf life. The process does not induce any radioactivity nor it is creating spoilage in food. It disinfects food products.

Bed bugs on Northeast trains: On March 15 2008 Transport Minister Santi Prompat blamed Farangs for the infestations of bed bugs on Northeast trains. He believes the bugs came from the forests to the trains via the backpacks of foreigners who have been trekking. And Sawittee Malaipan, an entomologist at a Kasetsart University claims that 'some foreigners, including refugees and tourists' attract the insects because they do not like to bathe.

The statements show ignorance, prejudice and unwillingness to seek the truth.

In fact, bed bugs are attracted by body warmth and the exhalation of carbon dioxide, and not by a lack of personal hygiene. Bed bugs live in mattresses, where there is a healthy supply of body fluids. Bed bugs cannot be carried on human beings for any length of time, and it is highly unlikely that they would be transported in clothing, etc. The bugs on the trains are mostly cockroaches, due to the unhygienic conditions in the kitchen and elsewhere.

Stupid Police: Aids cases in Thailand are on rise and the national sub-committee on Aids prevention suggests to use condoms, but every effort to promote the use of condoms will fail so long as the police slap heavy fines on women who have a condom in their handbags.

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Officials should use their brains (or the Internet) before they start speaking.