impulse

There's an argument to be made that's because the IQ tests were minted in the West and test for insights that are less relevant to the developing world. Put a Thai vendor up against a western vendor and I almost guaranty you the Thai will have better negotiating skills. In the West, prices are clearly marked and everyone pays the same clearly marked price. So they never have to learn to negotiate. In Thailand, they start to learn negotiating as soon as they learn to talk.

That's why I say, the math depends on which studies you look at. The ones I reference came out of the US and Australia and they vary between 20-40x as dangerous per km on a 2 wheeler than safely ensconced in a 4 wheeler with seat belts. Edit: It's easy to get caught up in whether its 17x or 20x or 40x or 41x. But the salient point is that it's a lot more dangerous to ride a scooter in traffic, even with a brain bucket

You cross that 29x Rubicon when you choose a scooter over a 4 wheeler. The math depends on which study you look at, but putting on a helmet reduces that risk by only 40% (+/-). So you're still 29 x 60% = 17x as likely to die per km on a scooter than in a car, even with a brain bucket.

The only safe method of driving here is staying completely away from everyone, as no one can be trusted. 1-2 tons of steel and seatbelts go a long way to making you 29x less likely to die than throwing a leg over a scooter. With or without a brain bucket. I understand why Thai people of limited means have no choice but to risk it. I don't get why foreigners with nice pensions risk death like they do.

I'd gladly go full Stepford Wives when they come up with one that looks, acts and feels like Katherine Ross. Edit: Or like the one on the guy's phone in the OP...

I wonder if the patient actually got a massage by those small fish that eat dead skin, and didn't want to fess up to the stoopidity.

Same with the USA. We've been paying reparations in the form of reverse discrimination (Affirmative Action and DEI) and perpetual welfare payments for 60 years. That's about 3 generations. It never ends, and the demands become more egregious every election cycle. Buying votes with the promises of even more free money. OPM, of course.

I wonder if he had a cunning plan to get them past the full body scanners in airport security?

Having watched the movie 16 Candles, I thought this thread about Dong was going to be something completely different. Long Duk Dong

I wonder how many of them took the $1000 and a free airplane ticket back home? Leaving more jobs for 'Murricans.

Must be state employees then. Because Federal workforce was reduced again. Saving US taxpayers mo' money every month since the inauguration. As promised. BTW, I came across this tidbit, for anyone wanting to duplicate the "California Economy" by voting for Newsom. (Or any Dem, for that matter- look at all those Dem run cities...)

I think it's news in that they're further along figuring out where the devices came from, and why.

IMO, this was predictable from over a year ago. When the dust settles, there will still be dispensaries and plenty of weed for sale. But it'll be dominated by the powerful families with the deep pockets and the stroke to have the connections to get the permits and hire the "doctors". Everyone else in the value chain will make peanuts. Just like smokes and beer and (for the most part) booze.

Quoting Srikcir (because the quote function is broken): By who and what examination was conducted? Was it an actual dentist or a general practitioner doctor who is guessing based on what information? The mentioned Thaiger article has more details. Seems the family may have self diagnosed the dental problems because she's of wisdom tooth age. That said, there was some confusion and false starts even after she went to A&E. The Thaiger article is worth a read. I found it Googling Shalona Beaumont. There's also some UK articles, but those are blocked here in China.

Best of luck to the OP. Please post back with your results.