wwest5829

6 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

I wonder how much of those suicides are related to social media.

There was a time when we could avoid bullies in school, at work or other places. We went home and closed the door.

Now, with social media viral post anytime anywhere that is not possible anymore.

 

Personally I don't use facebook or any of that. I wouldn't even know if someone writes something bad about me. But it seems many people use that all the time, and all their "friends" are on it. How long does it take to destroy someone on those platforms? And then?

So much about "progress".

I have not read the studies findings as to the reasons for suicide but I think, based on a suicide report segment on the PBS Newshour in the last two days, that reasons vary. I take your point about media exposure and agree that being berated daily with negative news can be depressing. But the underlying causes of suicide are complex and vary among peoples, and cultures. For myself, if I suffer a debilitating illness, leaving me a babbling idiot and have the wit and access, pull the plug … slip me the pill. I am currently certainly not in any hurry but I do not fear the transition which comes to all life.

2 hours ago, Skipalongcassidy said:

‘Something to do with America?’ When asked why we observe Labor Day, these Gen Zers ‘have no clue’

American and European History finishing my last 27 years teaching undergrads. You?

17 hours ago, itsari said:

Thailand should sell Phuket to the Russians .

USA bought Alaska from the Russians so all is possible 

In today's political scererio, Putin could just "annex" Phuket and move Russian troops in to "protect" Russians already there. Same as was done in the Donblas.

On 9/5/2023 at 1:47 PM, donsaiyuan said:

Hi,

I'm a US citizen with a valid passport and Thai visa with current valid permission to stay. I'd like to apply for a United States Passport card to use as a second photo ID for my bank. They've accepted my main passport and a friend at the same bank mentioned just get this card and that will suffice for the second photo ID. I haven't been back since 2008 and no longer have a current State ID and don't want to go through the hassle of flying back, establishing residency in a state, applying for a drivers license, etc.

Have any of you US citizens applied for and received a Passport Card? If so were you able to recently do it online or did you have to make an appointment at the embassy? I checked the embassy website but didn't find the info I needed.

I'm not looking for any "why don't you just get a different bank" or "go check the embassy site" or "go check google" or "when I did it in 2012 it was like Xyz" responses.

I'm asking here in hopes of legitimately helpful responses as I've received over previous years.

I'd prefer to get the Passport Card in Chiang Mai since I'm located in Khon Kaen. But that might not be possible.

What are the current options?

It might be a stretch to ask if anyone has seen embassy consular visits that were common once per year in each Isaan province pre-COVID, where the embassy staff would handle passport renewals (they'd take the form, photo and payment on-site in say Udon or Khon Kaen, and handle the rest by mail courier) -but if you've heard any updates or these have resumed, maybe that's an option to pursue the Passport Card application.

Asking this extra bit in case the replies help someone else searching similar in future.

Thanks a lot for all advice in the past, -much appreciated!

As renewed Passports are issued through the Embassy in Bangkok, I would think that the cards would also be issued only there. But I have not done so. I use my US Passport and Thai Driver's License as the two IDs if required.

5 minutes ago, Hummin said:

Not to forget the well sized panzer beetles they have here. Saw a few incidents where they created a huge fling/cut in the face. 

In over a decade I have heard a couple of those bounce off the helmet. A direct hit to the eye would be serious and, no doubt would result in going down on the bike.

49 minutes ago, Hummin said:

The most important, is wearing a proper safety standard helmet, and then for more safety, a full face helmet. Have to start one place.

 

Short rides, shopping, beach, I use a proper open face helmet with proper shield, which covers the most essential parts. 

When first arriving, I was recommended to wear a hemet with a face shield to keep road dust out of the eyes. Good advice.

Just happy my Thai Wife and I met in later life. With a 26 year age difference, that would have been a problem for many earlier years. Having seen her earlier photos, I have no doubt I would have been attracted to her. As a retired educator, having taught 6 years at the Junior high/middle school level and another 6 years at the high school level … automatic “danger Will Rodgers”. No question that their hormones were raging … males with testosterone poisoning want to challenge you … the girls practicing feminine flirting. Yikes! Some times … but YO! NO!!!

23 hours ago, Neeranam said:

I've been dizzy when getting out of bed the last few days. 

Also had headache 2 days. 

 

Had swollen left calf muscle last week, but better now. 

Pretty sure that was caused by very hot bath after running 7.5 km with no shoes on. 

 

Any doctor in the house? 

Also dropped a steroid inhaler to half strength recently, but breathing seems OK. 

Not medical doctor. But sometimes I have found this result of low blood sugar or low blood pressure. So far, corrects itself pretty quickly. If I think I need it (rarely) a Pepsi Cola answers the sugar boost. Do make sure the water intake is looked after in the heat/along with exercise. Just my two satang …

5 hours ago, LivinLOS said:

My wife eats 2 - 3 times the volume of food I eat.. Day and night, wake up for a mama noodles late evening just before bed, instant food the second she wakes up, 5 plus 'meals' a day.. A bowl of noodles every trip out of the house, a couple of dishes grabbed as a snack between meals..  Yet shes 45kg and fits the same jeans she did 20 years ago in her 20s (she just found a pair recently, not an exaggeration). 

 

She is active and hard working for house work and garden etc, shes 'busy' but the sheer volume of poor quality food she consumes is truly crazy. Shes eating now as I type this !! 

 

I often think it may be to do with chilli and metabolism. 

Sexercise? Just kidding, please don’t take any offense.

16 hours ago, bignok said:

The area near Victory is good.

Recently stayed at FX Metro (part of Furama group). Right around the corner from underground, one stop to Skytrain. Cannot recommend for gym nor swimming pool. All else was fine, room, breakfast, location, service, etc.

19 hours ago, Lacessit said:

You can buy dumbbells at any sports store or Big C, mine cost 300 baht.

Use Agoda to find hotels, preferably one with a swimming pool, good aerobic exercise.

Booking.com and Agoda are the same company (but different) now if I recall correctly. Gotta watch these guys (actually all) as the prices stated can fluctuate quite a bit. I think I recall returning to a hotel and the price magically increased substantially.

On 9/3/2023 at 12:56 PM, richard_smith237 said:

You can't go too far wrong looking at Decathlon... 

 

https://www.decathlon.co.th/en/p/8357352/camping-tents/2-man-pop-up-tent-2-seconds-fb

 

The same items are more expensive in Australia (so if you dont mind carrying the tent....)... 

If I were in the market I would go here also.

3 hours ago, Edwin Cameron said:

It's so obvious to any person with a pea brain that he knew everything that was going to happen to him before he landed in Thailand,he will probably be out before Xmas,let's see,I find the whole thing an insult to Thai people.

" ... insult to the Thai people"? As in having elected governments overthrown by military coup d'etat?

17 hours ago, Isaan sailor said:

Runaway inflation. And hollowing out the manufacturing base.  I think we are the last generation to retire comfortably—although to do it, some of us had to came here.

Certainly is my case. Living pay day to pay day ... on my retirement budget of $2200.00 USD a month here in Thailand (family of three0.

6 hours ago, SunnyinBangrak said:

Trump mk2 would be untamed and unbridled revenge. 

 

Up side of this is most will support it. The left claim the law applies equally to all, let's see the lefty elites in jail for their summer of love, election denialism, weaponizing the DOJ, encouraging the "surge" to biden's welded open southern border etc

Responded with the “laugh” you would be correct to think I am laughing at you, not with you. Damn … I got sucked into the tolling, sorry.

19 hours ago, Bangkok Barry said:

I've been using a fantastic service from a chap called Eric for a number of years now and have no complaints. I'd estimate it's fault-free well over 95% of the time and it works out at around 600 a month, paid quarterly. All the channels I could ever want and many hundreds that I don't, and on the odd occasion there might be a brief problem then he responds or informs what the problem is and that it's being dealt with.

Same here in Chiang Mai. Tech guy if I need him. 400 baht a month. Movies, news, etc. More content than I would ever need. I use 3BB for my wifi home connection to the box.

59 minutes ago, CanadaSam said:

Never seen ne'er-do-wells spelt like that!   ????

Oops ... fat fingers, sorry.

2 hours ago, Olmate said:

Use an agent and you can guarantee you wont be getting random visits! 

As I used an agency, that is a comfort.

23 hours ago, KhunLA said:

In summation, you arrived before them, order your coffee.

 

They arrived, ordered 15 beverages, and ate probably what the shop didn't sell.   

 

Unless the sign was in Chinese, well ... nuff said.

 

The stench was so unbearable, you stayed and watch them finish their 3 course meal.

 

And they are the problem, 15 drinks in less time while eating, than took you to finish your 1 coffee.  Got it.

 

I know what customers I would prefer as an owner.   Added plus for making the grumpy old bigot uncomfortable.

That was the question raised in my mind … wonder how many of us could read the sign posted if in Shanghai (in Chinese, of course). I have long forgotten most of what I learned studying there in 1986.

Previous to my March/April visit to the USA for a month long stay, I went online and bought an eSIM from T-Mobile (iPhone). Just directed the phone to switch to the T-Mobile number upon landing in the USA.