Blast to the Past

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***
The tanks have taken to the streets.

Jesus Christ, we've gone back in time twenty years.

(Maybe this is inappropriate, but I wonder if this means finals are cancelled...)

EDIT @ 12:16 AM: CNN, BBC, CNBC, and Bloomberg news have all been suspended due to a "sun outage." I smell bullshit; lots of it. Interesting how the "sun outage" should happen just in time for Thaksin's speech at the UN General Assembly.

They better not "suspend" the internet. If I wanted to be cut off from the rest of the world, I'd live in North Korea.

EDIT @ 12:29 AM: Apparently, all schools and universities in the country have been ordered to close. (I ask again, does this mean finals are cancelled?)

EDIT @ 12:56 AM: There are rumors that all cell phone networks are going to be cut off in the next hour. Hopefully this is just that -- rumors.

EDIT @ 1:01 AM: Rumors are swirling like crazy. I have been getting phone calls and text messages that say a new prime minister, Akrathorn Jurarat, has been appointed.

EDIT @ 1:22 AM: Apparently Thaksin's headed back to Thailand (by commando, natch), and according to rumors, he might not be allowed to land.

EDIT @ 1:29 AM: Troops have moved in closer to home -- Changwattana Road -- which isn't far from the major military base I use as a short-cut on my way to uni everyday.

EDIT @ 1:58 AM: According to 2bangkok.com, troops have moved into the Communications Authority of Thailand, which is located on Changwattana Road. This explains their sudden appearance so close to home...

EDIT @ 2:14 AM: Rumors (and I strongly emphasize this because rumors are going around like crazy) say Pantongtae has been detained at the airport while trying to leave the country.

EDIT @ 2:20 AM: Trains, planes, and cars are all halted. Looks like we're stuck here, folks.

EDIT @ 2:22 AM: Internet's going to be cut down in a few hours. I'm trying to get as much down here while I can. With access to CNN, BBC, and CNBC down, who knows how we're going to find out what's going on now?

EDIT @ 2:24 AM: Bush to make a statement soon (not like we're going to be able to hear it, but you folks outside Thailand will) about the US's relationship with Thailand political and international affairs.

EDIT @ 2:38 AM: Thailand's officially constitutionless and tomorrow's officially a "holiday." What we're commemorating, I have no idea.

EDIT @ 2:48 AM: A friend has told me of rumors of a shooting around the Rattanatibet area.

EDIT @ 2:53 AM: Popular Thai message boards are being shut down all over the place. The Thai blogs are still going strong, though. If you can read Thai, definitely check out http://revolution.blogrevo.com/.

EDIT @ 3:02 AM: My friend's dad, who's a member of Thai Rak Thai, is unreachable and nowhere to be found. I'm still waiting for all of this to sink in; this is supposed to be in the history books, not on my front door, for f*ck's sake.

EDIT @ 3:18 AM: I'm sorry, but I just had to post this: My brother just said, and I quote, "Does this mean I don't have to go to ROTC class this Friday? And if I do, are they going to make me join in on the coup???" XD

EDIT @ 3:29 AM: In light of everything that's been going on, suddenly I'm reminded of a book I read a few months back by Meg Rosoff called "How I Live Now." It features a teenage protagonist, but no matter what your age, I cannot recommend this enough. Run to your local bookstore and check it out.

EDIT @ 3:39 AM: Thaksin's scheduled UN address has apparently been cancelled.

EDIT @ 4:48 AM: My phone has finally stopped ringing, so I'm off to get some shut-eye now. Things seem to have calmed down around the city; hopefully it stays that way when dawn breaks in a few hours...