impulse

Yeah. I try not to hang out with war mongers.

If you have decided you've missed the boat, consider yourself lucky that you figured it out before you plowed everything you own into Thailand. I've seen so many western faces walking around Thailand looking like zombies because they underestimated future living costs. Especially health care, but also the costs created by the changes in visa rules. Like boiling frogs, their lives get smaller and smaller every year, but not quite bad enough to pack it in. And I've seen a lot of them that did pack it in when their "visa scheme" (whatever it was) slams shut. Saw tons of them pack up and move out after the coup, when back to back land visa runs became impossible... Also saw a bunch that had to leave when immigration decided they had to keep their 400K or 800K in the bank all year long. Who knows what hurdles they're going to reset next year...

Sounds like another Derangement Syndrome. RDS. The majority of Americans I know would rather just live and let live with the Russkies. Musk could have just not given Ukraine any interweb access, and nobody would have said boo. Of course, thousands of Ukes would have died and what little economy they have would have ground to a halt. Did anyone call out Bill Gates for not sending them $$ millions in computers? Or Zuckerberg for not sending $$ millions of whatever he has to offer?

Anyone remember Chrysler's turbine powered car of the future? Quick question... Where ya going to get the hydrogen? Or more accurately, the energy to put hydrogen into a form that can be used in a vehicle.

It's the GOP that's leading state efforts to keep cities from banning gas appliances: Other progressive cities followed suit with similar bans (on gas appliances). San Francisco passed its own ban in 2020. New York City became the largest US city to pass a version in 2021, with New York Gov. Kathy Hochul vowing to pass a statewide law that would ban natural gas by 2027. But other municipalities looking to take similar action are running into a brick wall. Twenty states with GOP-controlled legislatures have passed so-called “preemption laws” that prohibit cities from banning natural gas. https://edition.cnn.com/2022/02/17/politics/natural-gas-ban-preemptive-laws-gop-climate/index.html The GOP seems to believe in choice and letting consumers decide. If you read the article, the cities that banned gas appliances are the usual lefty led swirlers. You know, the ones swirling down the toilet of lefty policies.

Especially if it comes with a juicy political appointment.

I missed the draft by about 2 years. Too young. And of the dozens of people I've known that got college deferments, the ONLY ones that regret it seem to be those who later run for office, where it's held against them. The rest of them only get more and more convinced they did the right thing as the insanity of that war has been further revealed by declassified documents over the years.

So let's summarize. He gave millions of Ukrainians satellite interweb access to get on with daily life and business. Access that probably saved many lives and livelihoods. But he drew the line at giving them access that would have killed Russians and possibly resulted in a retaliatory nuclear attack. And he's the bad guy, how?

But how many more tourists (especially domestic tourists) would fly in and out if the price of tickets were more competitive? I've read probably hundreds of posts here about the lengths people will go to in order to avoid the high cost of flying into the airport monopolized by BA. Samui was gonna get an airport, whether it was gub'ment funded or BA funded. Seems like Phangna will, too. I'm just not sure that selling BA a monopoly is the best plan for all stakeholders in the long term.

How's the weather down there in Bizarro World? Where up is down, cold is hot, east is west, and the right is the party trying to ban gas appliances and gas cars.

I'm not sure that "elected official in a state that's bleeding population and tax base on account of poor leadership" is something to run on. Especially AG, since crime is probably the number one reason for people fleeing to Red states.

And how much to park?

History is full of technologically superior products that were crushed by regulations (many corrupt), lackluster marketing, and patent trolls who buy patents for the purpose of squelching them just to continue selling their inferior garbage.

One could make the argument that an airport investment by Bangkok Airways actually reduces tourism, by driving up the cost of flights in and out.

Too Many Words

You did read the part about the 5 college deferments before he went in for the medical exam that classified him "1-Y". Trump only had 4 before his medical exam that classified him as "1-Y".

One of the muckety mucks in the Dem party is claiming that it's clearly Kamala's turn. Running Newsom would be racist, and would go over poorly with Black and women voters. I don't think anyone's taking that to heart. Thank God.

But it's a lot like drug dealers. Nobody's forcing their customers to buy, but we still recognize the harm they cause to the community and that their actions are illegal. And we lock them up. And if we're a compassionate society, we help the victims recover from their own bad decisions. That's what bankruptcy is for.

Big ask, I know. How much are you paying per pill? Might help someone's decision whether the extra wait is worth it. As I posted above, I'm paying about 30 baht each with a maximum of 360 pills per visit. I'm actually hoping someone will come along and call me an idiot, because I can get them so much cheaper at XXXX.

I recall the guy being feted as some kind of business genius for saving Qantas, but when you looked at their total financials, the only thing that saved them was lower fuel costs. He took the position at just the right time.

@Sheryl, for those on a tight budget, is ritalin available at all from public hospitals? Also, any insights into visa status required? (Example, can you fly in on a visa exempt for a long weekend to stock up if you don't have a previous relationship with the hospital?) Thanks

Good info. Thanks. Just out of curiosity, does anyone tuned in here know the exact amount of time abroad before you're vulnerable?

Looked to me like a kid who just heard the ice cream truck... It would have taken him 15 whole seconds to stand there, applaud the guy (the whole crowd would have chimed in), then shake the guy's hand again, excuse himself and keep clapping all the way out to the ice cream truck.

Hoping the above posts answer your visa question, may I ask why the NHS and social services declined to help you? The details may be helpful for anyone using "go back home and get treated for free" as their preferred health insurance cover in Thailand.

“Let me tell you something, New Yorkers. Never in my life have I had a problem that I did not see an ending to. I don’t see an ending to this. This issue will destroy New York City. Destroy New York City,” and “The city we knew, we’re about to lose.” NYC Democrat Mayor Eric Adams. That's quite an accomplishment... I watched the video of the medal ceremony. Biden wandered off, leaving the poor guy looking completely embarrassed. I felt bad for him, at what should have been one of the proudest moments of his life.