wwest5829

4 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

I agree with everything you said.

 

Except you forgot to put "liberals" in inverted commas. They are anything but liberal. They are deeply authoritarian, hiding behind a facade of benevolence. They are a huge threat to liberty.

How did I miss it? Conservatives, not liberals founded the USA.

Yes, yes … Republicans nominate Trump or DeSantis. Pleeeze. Best chance to see another Biden term. No? In that case, I no longer have a country that I could support, defend nor care about. Loose the support of the majority of the working middle class and you have lost the country already. If that is what the American voters want as the leader of ideals … so be it. I am already an economic refugee unable to afford to live in my own country in retirement.

“However, the rising instances of unsuccessful Thai-Chinese marriages have particularly rattled the consulate office. Bhavivarn attributed this trend to Thai brides embarking on their marital life with unrealistic expectations and without a comprehensive study about life in China. The subsequent disappointment leads to several women seeking acquaintance with the consulate in a bid to return home”. Wondering if Thais are applying this to broader international relations with the Peoples Republic of China? Wise to recognize there is a wider application of reality here.

On 7/29/2023 at 12:31 AM, Jacques Clouseau said:

That comment was fxcked up, bro.

Ha! Yes, well here is the thing ... up until I reached the age of 26 ... Michael Douglas and I could have said the same thing.

On 7/28/2023 at 10:58 PM, KhunLA said:

At 67 now, I don't think I'd be looking for another relationship, and simply enjoy being single again.

 

No sense in starting something that won't last that long.  I'm on borrowed time already.

 

Wide variety in personal outlook. For some, including myself when I first arrived ... rent all from now on. Housing? Transport? Ha! Even the food we are just "renting ... so to speak). Female company? So much for the grand plan. I found after experiencing with different scenarios, that I wanted to have a female to share my life. While you might observe that at age 64 1/2 and after having 5 by-passes that it would be a good move for health reasons ... that was not my primary concern. The girl I was with was still with me when I had a heart attack in 2015. Still, conditions were such that I chose to no longer share my life with her. By 2017 my Wife and I found each other and could not be happier (not entirely true if anyone want to "Will" me about 400K USD, you could say you personally created a millionaire!).

2 hours ago, scottiejohn said:

Are you suggesting an IQ test before being allowed to vote?

????

There in lies 'the rub". Smacks of earlier USA "literacy tests" purposely designed to restrict voting of blacks after a time of, by law, forbidding blacks to be taught how to read or write. Now? Allowing that an uneducated citizenry should direct the election of representatives, and their influencing the electorate through paid lobbied "propaganda" on how they should vote. I am thinking, this society is sadly doomed to failure. The ideal of the critical need for a basic minimum public provided education is essential but that education must be effectual. Again, sadly, far too many of my fellow citizens are woefully lacking in knowledge or critical thinking skills

7 hours ago, BangkokReady said:

If they are really pro-democracy, they should now be campaigning for Pita to be PM.  The fact that they're happy with the result if it means Thaksin returns to Thailand suggests they favour one result over another, rather than what people actually democratically voted for.

 

Sadly, it isn't uncommon for people to claim they want a particularl progressive thing (democracy, human rights, etc.) but really they just want the result that they favour.

Addressing the last paragraph. I have and continue to wrestle with this. Yes, I feel I firmly support the idea of democracy. I want all citizens to have an equal vote. Then as an American, I am faced with an uneducated electorate ... not what the democratic ideal calls for ... an educated, engaged citizenry.

Tongue in cheek ... get the numbers of Russians in Phuket up, Putin can declare he needs to send in military forces to protect the Russian speakers. After all, part of the rationale he used for invading Ukraine (and Hitler used to get the Sudetenland from the Western Powers ... peace in our times, indeed).

3 hours ago, 2baht said:

Air con...........happy days are here again! 

Rarely do I use the “cool” setting on the air conditioner. But I regularly use the “dry” setting to reduce the humidity, especially now with the rain.

Sorry, cannot give advice on this matter as I cannot identify … although I recognize it is very real for some folks. We are all different so, my spending a good part of the day reading is not for everyone. Being a student of history, I am also immersed in seeking out my genealogy both through the written documents (Ancestry) and through having taken the DNA tests. Currently reading, “Texas” by Michener while researching my Mother’s lineage in Texas while it was still part of Mexico. But that is just me … no doubt others would find the seeking out of more knowledge boring. As is oft said in Thailand, “up to you”. Not enough hours in the day for me.

9 minutes ago, Fairynuff said:

The DL used to work, then they started refusing it but the pink card still worked. But more recently I’ve heard that that doesn’t work anymore. I haven’t tested it, so many national parks are a big disappointment that I’ve given up.

It is sad as I think the Thai National Parks could be developed into great tourist attractions.

5 minutes ago, EVENKEEL said:

Yeah, that certainly ruins the experience. I get, I've been angered over small amounts. Guess if I'm forewarned I can handle it better and not ruin the trip.

I need folks to allow for some slack with me. My relatives hauled the Philadelphia bound tea and set fire to it in Greenwich, NJ. It was only a small tea tax …

34 minutes ago, SoilSpoil said:

I also live in the area, pay tax, have kids here, and still have to pay more than my wife.

Agreed. Took my Thai Wife and Daughter for a month tourist trip to the USA. Each of our 4 day Disney tickets equal cost. When I showed my Senior’s Pass at US Nat’l Parks … no separate or foreigner price for my guests. The girls were overwhelmed by the costs in the US, we all agreed we are better off financially living in Thailand. We loved our visit but … couldn’t afford to live there.

46 minutes ago, Andyfez said:

It's waterfalls and hot springs that get me most.

 

Recently I went to a hot spring in Chiang Mai area. Apart from hot smelly water there was no beauty to this site.

 

I refused to pay, and we went off to a 'free' waterfall for a nice lunch.

I would just observe that I show my 5year Thai Driver’s License stating in Thai that I have lived in Chiang Mai for 12 years. I suppose the girl has some leeway As my Thai Wife and myself usually pay the same Thai price.

On 7/25/2023 at 2:06 PM, khunphil said:

Hello,

Anyone knows a good mechanic in Chiangmai, for an old Mazda 2 2011. We need to check the AC blower motor fan, and other stuff. For those small repairs, I would not like to go to Mazda official place, as they're already speaking about changing all air-cond system.

Any other recommendation welcome.

Thai or English speaking (other than Pro-Auto that I contacted already)

Thanks

Phil.

J&N Auto on the 2nd ring road. Jimmy worked in the US for over a decade so English language is no issue. 

6 hours ago, blazes said:

I read recently (forget where) that 62% of German men pee sitting down.  No idea why.  But I tried it out myself and, mirabile dictu, I found  that I felt somehow "better" after performing that (normally) feminine feat.

I will be seeing my urologist in September and will ask him about this.  It occurs to me (though it  sounds like a conspiracy theory) that this method of urinating may be good for your general health. 

 

Maybe why, statistically, women live longer than men?!!!

My motivation for this is having owned motorhomes for 30 years and having two Sons. Sometimes the standing aim is off. Easier just to sit and drain.

“Knock on wood” I am aware of this, in general, in Thailand but have not been subjected to dealing with this. Ha! When I first came I was sure the answer was to find a sterile orphan. Fortunately, my Wife’s family is economically secure, and live at least 10 hours from us. My Wife has made it quite clear that while she and her Daughter have a secure life, we are not wealthy. I have never been approached to supplement anyone else’s finances.

I wish you well in your pursuit to gain official Thai government recognition of Permanent Residency. Unfortunately for me, retired in Thailand for over 12 years with Chiang Mai as my only global residency, I am blocked from ever getting official recognition of this fact (aside from a political gaining of that official designation).

A familiar saying came to mind. "The beatings will continue until morale improves".

If I were interested in this, I would ask my Thai wife as she reads Thai. I am stopped by my lack of Thai language reading ability. The sites you listed, I think, are mostly used by non-Thais.