Thai Government Has Literally Gone To The Dogs
[su_r_sky_ad]How can you not read an article with a title like “The Air Chief Marshall Of Thailand Was Poodle Named Foo Foo And He Just Had A Four Day Funeral“? Okay, the title isn’t like that – you are reading the exact wording!
The beloved miniature poodle of Thailand’s crown prince has been cremated after four days of Buddhist funeral rights – an extravagance that’s surprising until one realizes that Foo Foo formally served as the country’s Air Chief Marshall.
In a diplomatic cable revealed by WikiLeaks, the U.S. ambassador to Thailand, Ralph “Skip” Boyce, wrote about a gala he hosted in which the pooch came “dressed in formal evening attire complete with paw mitts” and at one point hopped on the table and drank from his glass.
As if a pet with overcoats and senior military rank didn’t make enough of a statement, Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn scandalized the Thai people when photographs emerged of his wife’s 30th birthday. In them, Princess Srirasm fed the prized poodle birthday cake, while wearing little more than her birthday suit. …
[W]ith an estimated $30 billion to his name, Thailand’s King Bhumidol Adulyadej is considered to be the richest monarch in the world.
And upon the octogenarian monarch’s death, his playboy son is likely to inherit not only the thrown but vast riches and some real sway with the military.
neworleans878 February 5th, 2015 at 11:55 pm
Reminds me of the story that Caligula supposedly appointed his horse Incitatus consul in ancient Rome.
fahvel February 6th, 2015 at 2:25 am
wrong – it’s who the republican party is proposing to counter the field of fn idiods on parade.
Boehner-Monkey February 6th, 2015 at 9:55 am
And the horse had an attendant at all times whispering in his ear to keep him humble “Remember thou art equine.” (Nerdy ancient history joke)
neworleans878 February 6th, 2015 at 10:01 am
Thanks for starting my day off with a laugh!
Boehner-Monkey February 6th, 2015 at 7:01 pm
My pleasure! Anytime I get a laugh is a good day 🙂
FatRat February 6th, 2015 at 11:53 am
http://www.history.com/news/ask-history/did-caligula-really-make-his-horse-a-consul
Heard the same story, probably did so to humiliate the Senators.
According to historian Aloys Winterling, author of “Caligula: A Biography” (2011), insanity isn’t the only logical explanation for such behavior. In his book, Winterling makes the case that many of the emperor’s wackier stunts, including his treatment of Incitatus, were designed to insult and humiliate senators and other elites. By bestowing a high public office on his horse, then, Caligula aimed to show his underlings that their work was so meaningless an animal could do it.
fancypants February 6th, 2015 at 7:05 pm
there seems to be good company when it comes to wealthy pets
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2011/12/woman-leaves-13m-fortune-to-pet-cat/
behind Kalu the chimp, whose owner left him $80 million dollars, and top dog Gunther IV, a German shepherd who inherited $372 million dollars from his father, Gunther III, the beloved companion of an eccentric German countess.
granpa.usthai February 6th, 2015 at 12:50 am
The Thai people love animals, especially their dogs.
Being that the Crown Prince has recently divorced Princess Srirasm, there’s little that could be made of her Euro lifestyle.
While it is likely that the Crown Prince will become King someday, it’s not a complete given. It is possible that another member of the Royal Family could be selected.