impulse

Put it to a vote. Let the Greenlanders decide. That's what democracy means, right? Given those 2 choices, I'd take the $4 million and move to Thailand anyway. But that's me. I'm not a fan of freezing my butt off 10 months a year.

So you're saying that you'd pass up a million smackeroos? 2 million? I doubt it. That's 20-40x the annual GDP per capita in Greenland. Plus, US citizenship...

He's more likely to offer $1-2 million USD to each of Greenland's 55,000 residents, and let them vote on it. Denmark and Europe may not like it, but Greenland is a sovereign democratic nation, right? How many Greenland residents do you figure would pass up $1,000,000- $2,000,000 just to fly a different flag? Greenland for $55-110 Billion? That's a good deal all around.

I hope they take this as a cautionary tale that the foam insulation they used is not fire resistant. Heads should roll. But at least they found out before the theater was packed with customers.

They'll need to hire a lot more judges and build a lot more courthouses if they plan on prosecuting everyone who posts hurty words on the interwebs. Or are they just going to prosecute cyber bullies one side, or just those who bully "important people"?

Good info. Thanks!

As I recall, there are demonstrations nationwide on that day. Some are on military bases. Some are not. That year, I was in South Thailand and they had demonstrations on the naval base. I wasn't allowed in. Again, I'm not complaining. Excluding foreigners from sensitive military bases is probably a good idea. But I'd hate to take the kids out and get turned away at the gate.

Thailand has its structural problems, but the GDP per capita is still about 60-70% more than Vietnam. (according to worldometers.info) Thailand: $7,942, Vietnam: $4,745. It's easier to catch up to someone whose ahead (and has already blazed the trail) than it is to surpass them. They're both going to struggle getting over the mid-income hurdle. Thailand could do a lot better at attracting foreign investment and the tech that comes with it if they'd quit being so zenophobic in their policies toward foreign owned businesses. Western managed companies tend to pay better, their tech is generally more advanced, and they definitely train better... But they're not allowed to pay bribes. Which really limits opportunities in LOS.

Are foreigners allowed? I recall going to a naval base in south Thailand quite a few years back on Children's Day and they weren't allowing foreigners into the base. I don't have an opinion on whether that was good policy or not. Just wouldn't want to disappoint my kids on the day...

Watch "Becoming Brigitte". If it's false (and I am wide open to that possibility), it's one of the best documented and footnoted hoaxes in history. Don't bother responding unless you actually watch it... That would be like going to a book club discussion without reading the book.

The burden of proof is on the person making the claim. Not on the interwebs. But when you get to a court of law, don't you need to prove that people are lying in order to prosecute or sue them for defamation? Brian Chai wrote an excellent article about the slippery slope in Western Journal, that's also being picked up across the conservative media. Here's a snippet: Let’s be clear: The claim that French first lady Brigitte Macron is secretly a man is absurd, unserious, and a distraction from real problems. ...... If the threshold for state intervention is whether a powerful public figure can emotionally “ignore” speech, then free expression becomes entirely contingent on temperament. Had Brigitte Macron possessed thicker skin, would no crime have occurred? If the remarks had been laughed off instead of internalized, would the same words suddenly become lawful? This is psychological guesswork masquerading as “law.” Worse still, this standard is infinitely expandable. Any politician, spouse, or government-adjacent figure can now claim subjective distress as grounds to silence critics, satirists, or online provocateurs. Once personal discomfort becomes the metric for criminality, speech rights no longer belong to the public — they belong to the most thin-skinned people closest to power. On a related note, imagine what would happen if Trump started prosecuting people for ridiculing him or calling him a convicted rapist... Would that be okay?

I think the speed and size of the weed market caught the powerful families by surprise. As soon as the same families that control booze and smokes get their ducks in a row, weed will be back in force. It will still employ millions up and down the supply chain, but the only ones making the big money will be the usual families. Everyone else will be fighting for their crumbs.

Setting aside the political, (like Russkie sanctions), Europe shouldn't care where it comes from. Just how much is on the market, because that's what affects the price. Supply and demand. If Venezuela's production can be resurrected, that will increase the supply and Europeans will benefit with lower energy costs. So will every net importer of oil. Greta may not be pleased, though.

From Investopedia: Crude oil is quoted in U.S. dollars (USD). Countries that import oil pay for it in the greenback. Similarly, those that export the commodity receive payment in USD. This system dates back to the early 1970s after the collapse of the Bretton Woods gold standard.

I'm a retired Petroleum Engineer. Your credentials? Is Europe a net importer or exporter of oil and gas? The USA is a net exporter.

You've just made my point... It ain't about stealing Venezuela's oil. We (the USA) don't need it. Europe does. So do some other places. So basically, what you're saying is that there's no financial incentive for the USA to "steal" Venezuela's oil. We're already producing more than we use.

What percentage of casual tourists do you figure are even aware of those issues?

Have you seen any reports of a DNA test? I have not. The flipside of your argument is that you don't get to prosecute people for telling lies unless you can prove that they're lies.

She could remove all doubt with a DNA test. One has to wonder why she hasn't.

Thanks again for posting in time to make plans to attend!

That may be true. but there's a list of very experienced TVF scooter guys who don't post any more because they're no longer with us. On account of scooter tragedies.

Anyone who thinks they'll be getting insurance for $9 USD isn't thinking it through. Thailand plans to use that 300 baht fee to compensate hospitals that can't otherwise get blood out of a rock. It's not meant to provide coverage that eliminates the need to either buy insurance or be able to come up with the cash if you need treatment. BTW, here's the email from my travel insurance company to Bumrungrad regarding a request for payment pre-authorization for about $13,000 USD of emergency treatment I needed in November. I'm waiting now to see if they'll do the reimbursement... Even if they do, I was SOL for treatment if I hadn't been able to prepay the $13K USD. So even if you have travel insurance, you may have to pay in advance, file for reimbursement, and hope they come through.

You apparently don't remember ever being a poor student, or ever working your ass off for 300 baht a day. Much less all those who are currently totally unemployed because of the economy in the Eastern Corridor. Some folks can't afford a hotel.

The US is already a net exporter of oil and gas. Any additional oil freed up by improving the investment and production situation in Venezuela is going to be consumed in places other than the USA, and it will drive down the price of energy in places like Europe, where their economies are being crushed by the high cost of energy. On behalf of the American taxpayer, you're welcome.

That's just mechanics. All they have to do is post up signs declaring a 2000 baht fine if tents and any garbage aren't removed by 8:00 AM. That could also be quite the earner for the BIB, like the ones around Asoke who fine people 2000 baht for cigarette butts.