There are times you know you are a strange man living in a unique land- like some of these excerpts from the Bangkok Post:

• The Anti-Money Laundering Office- AMLO- wants stricter measures for opening private bank accounts and get this: “[After Aug 21], opening a bank account will not be easy,” Pol Col Seehanat said. Apart from rigorous pre-checks, applicants will be asked about the purpose of opening the account.”  Ugh oh, the purpose of the account!
• Two Brits Nabbed for Bungled ATM Thefts– so much quality in this story, going to be important they speak Thai as I think they might be staying a bit longer: The two suspects came to Thailand as tourists and have stayed in Pattaya for more than 10 years. Police said one pickup used to yank the ATMs was registered in the name of Mr Milbourn’s father, who has returned to England, and that both suspects speak fluent Thai.
• Nasa Leaves Door Open to Revive Study– a knee slapper and head scratcher, Thailand said: “yes, no, maybe, yes, no” to a hosting a NASA study, and now that the study has been cancelled, the Thai Parliament will debate the (now cancelled) study: Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said the government would proceed with its plan to submit the Nasa project for parliamentary debate despite the cancellation of the project.