Guys,
Methinks the thread's wandering from place to place, in Thailand and elsewhere. I know I came to Thailand on a Non-Immi-B visa in 1998 and haven't yet taken a holiday/vacation outside of Thailand. (I haven't even gone to my native country altho they haven't forgot me there as I still get tax statements each year.)
mirror man,
If you have any professional credentials and experience in journalism you can talk to me about the facts. For the record, I have an M.A. in Public Issues Journalism and considerable experience, especially in Boston and Washington DC. I published while I taught English in Korea and, woe be it, I'll soon publish here in Thailand. Further, I don't know any "ex-journalists." It's like being Catholic: Once a journalist, always a journalist. Accordingly, I have an ingrained respect for fact, the facts. Conversely, Ektra never liked being presented with the facts.
Predictably, your claim above is vague, sweeping and slippery. It's a hit and run post that borders on attempted character assassination. I don't want to get into a running bout with you, but what can you cite?