dundas

On 4/24/2025 at 7:12 PM, FlorC said:

Yes Biden is both weak and dumb (and demented and seniel).

But get with the times Walker , it is TRUMP now in charge. 

Not sure I'd agree with your first sentence (and I'm assuming you wanted to spell 'senile' and not 'genial'), but agree with the second sentence, yes, Trump is in charge – and IMO that is unfortunate. He acts like a cross between an undisciplined three year old and a mafia don. 

The whole point of free trade agreements after WWII was that it's better for countries to trade than to fight each other. The result has been complex supply chains that actually work to make life better for people everywhere. Trump's tariff war blows up those supply chains. It also doesn't make sense to many economists (Democrat or Republican inclined, it doesn't matter) and it is really a prelude to a bigger war (economic or military) which IMO China is likely to win. And all those tariffs that Trump has imposed break trade agreements which in some cases he himself signed (in his first term) – so much for American trustworthiness, now lost somewhere in the gutter.  I suppose in the short term Trump can point to an increase in government income (paid for by hapless consumers), and give tax cuts to his billionaire donors with the promise to people wanting jobs that Apple may eventually start making iPhones in the US – for a mere $3,000 a pop. And it's fascinating that Russia has a free ride in all of this, just in case you still want evidence for all those assertions that Trump is nothing more than Putin's puppet. Russia is one of the biggest winners in what's going on now. 

What else could anyone expect from a racist and deluded old man? Economic modelling shows that the country most impacted by Trump's craziness is ... the United States. It would be kind of funny if it weren't for the very real human cost. 

So on the basis of a 60 day visa waiver, I've already booked my travel with just under 60 days in Thailand.  Now I will have to do what I did last year, when the promised 60 day scheme was endlessly delayed – before I even attempt to enter Thailand I will buy the cheapest possible never-to-be-used outbound ticket at the 30 day mark, and after I arrive, go to Immigration for a ฿1900 extension. Next year, I'll know better. 

I had my first implant in Chiang Mai around 2013. It was $A3,000 at the time, although once the treatment had started the dentist tried very hard to upsell (I knocked back all attempts).  My current Australian dentist has given me 3 implants since.  He regards Thai dentists as his competitors and charges $2850 /~ THB64,000 (implant + crown). Extraction and x-rays are extra, and if you need a bone graft, that will also cost more,  but it's still very competitive, and my health insurance pays about half.  Plus he guarantees his work, in writing. Thailand isn't always the best value, is what I want to say.

It's not difficult to disclose any pre-existing conditions. I have a few and disclose them each time I come to Thailand; the insurance company has always agreed to cover me at no extra charge. 

Well, Thai Immigration picked up a footballer who had fled a middle-eastern country after stating his mind a bit too publicly, and who had then successfully gained the protection of the Australian government. He had a dodgy Interpol notice against him, and he narrowly escaped being extradited to the hell-hole he had fled. My point: Thai Immigration do know about Interpol notices, at least some of the time. 

3 minutes ago, DustyShoes said:

Thank you, also glad you're not an American. It's dying from too much ignorance and complacency already without your help.

5555

23 minutes ago, OneZero said:

Dr Siri at CMU Sriphat has Thurs am appts:  053-934-733.  Good reputation.

Thanks for this! 

RAM seems to be coming more focussed on cosmetic approaches, and their prices have gone up over the years. I would like someone competent with sun damaage/skin cancer and at a  better price. 

For the last 10 or 12 years I've used Chiang Mai RAM, but I've decided to look for other options. 

Any recommendations for a dermatologist, who can check me for sun damage/skin cancers, etc?

I've flown on the Thai 787-8. It's 9 abreast like just about every other airline's 787 (except JAL's), meaning that seats are narrower than those on a 737 ... the legroom is OK, better than Jetstar's, let's say.  

Scoot-plus seating is equivalent to premium economy on any other airline, the seats are OK for recliners, but the service is pretty ordinary -- one meal and drink for the flight, served soon after take-off (presumably so that you will buy more later in the flight) Staff are focussed on making sales in economy, for the most part. 

Jetstar Business charge more, have similar seating, and better service. On the long haul flights I've been on, two meals (each pretty good), plus you are permitted to help yourself to anything available on the economy menu. 

The seating on Air Asia (via KL) is not all that roomy. I'm 194cm and had to curl up in a foetal position in order to sleep ... but the seats do lie flat (so they're definitely superior to those in Scoot or Jetstar), and that's way better than sitting up overnight. Service arrangements are similar to Scoot but the food is better and you can choose the service (first or second)  for your included meal/drink. A major disadvantage is that changing flights in KL isn't all that luxurious an experience, more like one that can make the journey stressful rather than relaxing. 

If it was my choice, I'd take the Jetstar flight. 

Thai have also made it much harder to earn points in economy -- and that, and the new higher prices, are the reason I've stopped flying them. It's a shame, I flown them since not long after their inception. 

They've been dropping hints about 'new routes' on Australian social media. So maybe Perth and NZ will be back. 

it's typical that after a traumatic event such as rape, people are unable to even think about it, let alone talk about it or take action. Anecdotally, I've heard that for the typical holocaust survivor this period was 40 years. So 20 years after a rape sounds about right (not dismissing the trauma of a rape, but for many holocaust survivors the trauma was ongoing, and in many cases, even more brutal).  If you're interested in the delay many survivors experience in being able to talk about it, google the search phrase why-many-people-dont-talk-about-traumatic-events-until-long-after-they-occur.