bendejo

Gov't hotel yes, but in her case much more than 1 night.

I think bellbottoms were in style around the time that changed.

him go fast too mutt Be sure to watch past 0:35

He wasn't trying to kill her, he just threw a big-*ss knife at her is all.

Maybe took a room on Suk Soi 4 for a few nights for some, errr, appreciating the local color.

I don't see any yellow shirts in that picture.

Care home = fate worse than death, strictly my own opinion. The term "dependent living" gives me the utter creeps. You might want to check out Billy Connolly's routine about how brown bread is supposed to make you live longer. The bit pre-dates his own major medical problems.

Chemicals banned in more prosperous countries (very well the countries manufacturing them!) just might be freely used here, and in the rest of the developing world. Industrial chemicals, fertilizers, insecticides, food additives, lead paint and so on.... The possibility of easy access to very fresh produce (picked only a day or two before purchase) is inviting, but who knows what nasty chemistry it has been through; not blaming the locals for this, they probably have no idea.

(note: I did not take this picture) I used to see them getting in and out of covered pickup trucks. I guess they had a barracks or something in the neighborhood where I was staying in Bkk. There was always a few RTP present when the trucks were there. A rough looking bunch, probably ex-cons. No way to possibly mistake them for RTP or army, that would involve haircuts and keeping the tats covered. I never saw them walking the street in their black outfits, but I did see a few sitting around on the street behind the stage at Erawan (remember the "Peaceful Protest" banner?). They were visible in vids of the shootout at Democracy Monument, at least in the first few days. During the night after the end of the protest, the arson and vandalism happened at select targets: a truck would pull up, the thugs would get out and do their thing then back in the truck and zoomed away. I think certain bank branches were targeted. Speaking strictly for myself, I felt safer walking the streets in Bkk when the military was patrolling than I did with the cops. There's an expression a lot Thai get on their faces the first time they see a farang up close in real life, and these army guys had it, I'd guess they were mostly country boys. Sometimes I'd chit-chat in my extremely poor command of the language but they made an effort to understand and of course it got them laughing. When encountering a person holding an automatic weapon it is in your interest for them to be in a good mood.

Also wet floors. I used to think it was bad plumbing (the drain in the washbasin not connected to the drain pipe, for example -- pretty common there) but I harbor the impression that there is some kind of "good luck" in keeping the floors wet. May sound crazy to an occidental, but if you've lived in this part of the world . . . Wearing anything other deck shoes when out and and about betrays having a death wish, IMO.

Back in those days LOS was producing truly choice quality stuff, like with the potential to be coma inducing. And a note of gratitude to the Kiwi traveler who taught me how to roll 'em with a cardboard mouthpiece.

Big problem in Malaysia and Indonesia. I've been to newly-constructed shopping malls in the final phases of construction (wallboarding, shop windows being installed) and the place already smells of backed up toilets. Those two countries seem to be in competition for the worst plumbers in the world. Or maybe Indonesia gets the trophy, and Malaysia hires Indonesian plumbers.

It could be said the crackdown was provoked by the "black shirts" but the conundrum is that the Reds won't admit the black shirts exist.

Would it be in China's interest for Thailand to have submarines? I don't think so. But China can keep them busy while they plan for one, give them setbacks to deal with, etc. And of course keep the pockets stuffed. Maybe sometime in the next decade... But once they do have them and they start making that stinky cabbage soup they'll never get that smell out of the boat! ????

The meat at the "Mongolian Bar-B-Q" places in the U.S. are just that, I'm waiting to see one advertise "lowest quality of meat guaranteed!"

Oh dear!

And didn't meet any men on the way? Maybe they were avoiding her because she was wielding a sword. Poor Omar would understand

Or even have an understanding of how LE works. arresting officer: you are under arrest for taking a bribe bent copper: I did not take a bribe, I refuse to be arrested arresting officer: oh, ok, time for lunch anyway

The homeless migrate up and down the west coast of the US, from San Diego to Seattle, so this is not strictly a California thing. All of the cities on the route have makeshift encampments like the ones pictured above: San Francisco, Sacramento, Portland, Salem, Vancouver WA, and so on. Even the most caring liberal types are fed up with it. Crime is also up in these places this year, though it is not clear if the two are related.

Sounds like inflated numbers meant to bolster confidence. On the other hand potential tourists may see these figures and decide LOS is too crowded already, better go somewhere else.

None so blind as those who are paid not to see.

Elvis made a comeback that year, the birth of the white-jumpsuit Elvis. The two I mentioned have to do with the cultural changes of those particular times. The incident that sparked the situation in Running on Empty was based on something I knew the people involved with, but the real-life characters were caught (or did the turn themselves in?) soon afterward. As a NYC native the real miracle of that year, which the moon landing pales in contrast to, is the Mets winning the pennant/series. And I'm not even a sports fan: I blame the Brooklyn Bums for leaving town for my lack of interest. Something else happened that year that generated a sheetstorm in the media, but I don't recall ever hearing it mentioned again after the storm passed: "Paul is Dead." It's impossible to not laugh at that.

Summer of 1969? A Walk on the Moon is about yet another historic marker of that summer that you didn't mention. If I was putting together a "the way we was" double bill I'd put it with Running on Empty which takes place about 17 years after. Personally it's a "that could have been me" movie.

It was a way to bring diversity into the group of main characters, how else can could he do so with a film set in Africa, er, nevermind. I thought the special effects were pretty obvious. Cannot help thinking Branagh's ex (Emma Thompson) would have been better in Annette Bening's role, but maybe he did too.

You're not just paying them to go with you, you're also paying them to leave. IMO THAT is the beauty of it. In Rio, the over-30 women are appalled and bewildered that the foreign men come down there and spend all their time with the pros. They do not comprehend the wisdom of the first paragraph.