impulse

Asking out of curiosity, and because I don't know the answer. Not to make a judgement... Is there any risk of being charged with a crime if it comes to light that you're using a false residence address for banking or (especially) for NHS purposes or for other benefits, as recommended by several guys on here?

I bought Tramadol at Boots last week. Walk in, no prescription at all. Just had to put my name on a list of people who purchased it. Underneath several completely illegible signatures of others who had bought it. I don't remember the nice lady asking to see if the name matched my passport... I do have one script that can only be filled at a hospital, so your point is valid. Just not the details, if my experience was any indicator.

I don't guess it hurts that they're importing millions of future voters whose demographic has demonstrated a tendency to vote Blue... Instead of taking their chances with immigrants of a much higher education level and earning capability from, for example, Thailand. Or Malaysia. Or India. Or the Phils. But they'd probably be more likely to vote Red, and we can't have that. If the USA has a population problem, wouldn't it make more sense to open up and let in a lot more college educated and/or highly skilled people, even if we had to pay the $750 airfare to get them in? That's a whole lot cheaper than the $2000+ a month we're paying in bennies for families with no specialized skills and likely to stay on the dole for a looooong time. I'm all for increasing legal immigration. But the US is attractive enough that we can be very selective about who qualifies. And still get millions of highly skilled people who would give their eyeteeth to come. Or we can throw the southern border wide open and let just anyone in.

I can see where they'd want to know where you just came from, and what time your flight arrived. And if you had a boarding pass for a flight that arrived 8 hours ago, I suspect they'd have some questions... I've always just handed my passport and boarding pass to the IO.

As I said above, for me it's been a crapshoot. Sometimes I've been asked for it, sometimes not. If the flight was the first leg of a R/T ticket on the same airline, not surprisingly they already knew I had an exit ticket. It's also related to the type of visa. If you have a long stay visa, obviously they don't need to see an exit flight within 30 days. BTW, same with the 20,000 baht (equivalent). Some asked to see it. Some didn't. One asked if I had it, but didn't even ask to see it. YMMV. Do what you want, but at your own risk. I've also seen people get declined, step to the side and buy an onward ticket on their phone. Then all was good.

If you haven't snapped to the fact that "major news sources" are about as biased as RT, there's no use having a discussion. We'll never agree, nor convince each other. At least RT holds it out as an opinion piece. The MSM publishes it as if it's gospel. But includes words like "disproven" and "disgraced", when very often, neither is factual.

I'm not so sure it's been delegated. Rather, they're protecting their own interest because they're responsible for the expense of taking anyone back who isn't allowed in by immigration. Plus a hefty fine. In my own cases this year, it's been a crapshoot. About half the time, I'm asked to show 20,000 baht (equivalent) and not quite every time, asked to prove an onward flight. Not 100%, but often enough that I won't show up at the departure check-in without both. You may be right, it may be delegated. But in years past, I've also seen a lot of stories of immigration themselves asking for proof if they encounter a passenger that they don't like the looks of. (I hope my grammar teachers will forgive me) Edit: BTW, so far this year, nobody has asked me to show a hotel booking. Did that requirement go by the wayside, or was that a figment of my imagination?

So you like the echo chamber. Fine. I don't.

+1 I have been asked for both of those on various occasions this year. Never by immigration, but by the airline before boarding to BKK. I'm a US citizen, entering with no visa.

I didn't do it for the locals. I enjoy kayaking and especially kayak fishing. Also needed no-impact upper body exercise after my heart surgery. Best thing I could find close to home was renting canoes at Lumpini and QSNCC parks. No fishing allowed in either. But paddling around gets monotonous, so I looked for a way to make it more challenging. Best I could come up with was chasing down litter. Some of the recycling ladies actually got upset with me until they figured out I wasn't muscling into their turf, by giving it away when I landed at the dock. My rule was I didn't pick up bottles already on the shore, and I only picked up man made crap. No fronds, or other natural trash. BTW, no canoes or kayaks for rent last few times I went to QSNCC, and Lumpini now rents kayaks in addition to those goofy amusement park canoes and duck looking paddle boats.

It is now.

Russians have a dog in the fight. Last time I checked, the US border still ended at the western shore of the Atlantic.

Or perhaps Ukraine should stop sending old men (because the youths are mostly spent) to the front lines to die in an already lost cause.

Sanctuary cities all over are declaring states of emergency when they receive less than 1% of their population in illegal immigrants. NYC metro area has about 18 million population. Adams says that receiving 100K illegal immigrants will destroy the city. That's a little over 1/2 of 1% of their population. Martha's Vineyard declared an emergency and called out the National Guard when they received 50. That's about 0.4% of their population. Under Biden, between 5.8 and 8 million illegals have crossed the border. That's between 1.7% and 2.4% of the US population. I'd say it's time for Dem cities (especially sanctuary cities) to suck it up and take their fair share of the burden, instead of leaving it to the border states. But the Dems don't need more voters in already Dem cities. So that ain't gonna happen.

A couple of hours before dusk, I'd head over to Lumpini and rent a canoe to paddle around, using a litter picker to pick up trash off the water. Not so much for picking litter as to make paddling more interesting and hone my paddling skills. After an hour or so, I'd paddle back to the dock and give one of the recycling ladies the trash I picked up, for them to sell. Then buy a water and find a nice bench with a good view of the joggers going by. Used to do the same at the park by Queen Sirikit Convention Center, but that doesn't seem to have come back after the construction shutdown. In either location, a constructive way to spend an evening and I met a lot of nice people... One of the keys to staying sober (and being happy about it) is to expand your network of friends who don't live to drink. Not necessarily tea-totalers, but people who have a life outside the bars. And nothing vested in sucking you back in.

$325 million... I wonder how many poor Ukrainian kids' lives that buys, to get tossed into the meat grinder. Biden will fund the folly, down to the last Ukrainian.

Of course I can smell the borscht. Just like Grandma used to make when I was a kid. But I can also smell the cow paddies when I tune into Fox, and smell the smoke that CNN tries to blow up my butt. I don't want to live in an echo chamber where all I get is one side of a discussion. Even if I vehemently disagree with their interpretation of the facts, it's good to see what facts the different outlets do present (and which they leave out). Also good to see how they analyze what they've laid out, if only to understand an adversary.

Because he's on the right side of history. Needed to keep him around to save the world from the bad orange man... Yes. That's sarcasm.

Do I value the opinion of a woman who accused Biden of rape, was skewered by the powers that be, and finally ended up seeking refuge in Russia? She could have just as easily come out and compared Brand to Biden and called for him to be hanged. But she didn't. She called for an actual investigation before stripping him of his ability to make a living. Something that she claims she didn't get.

Interesting support coming from Tara Reade (of all places...) Recently, actor and comedian Russell Brand has used his celebrity status and his internet-based show to lift up independent-minded people like US presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. He questioned the US and NATO involvement in the proxy war against Russia in Ukraine, as well as the mainstream media narrative on Covid-19. The establishment neoliberals were having none of it. -------------- The questions that need to be asked when discussing the allegations against Brand are their curious timing – his alleged misconduct dates back a decade, but came to light soon after he started speaking out against the establishment narrative on Ukraine – and how the same neoliberals Brand has always been critical of are now leading and boosting the charge against him. All that said, if crimes were committed, they must be investigated and brought before a court – but the media, especially media with obvious political bias, is not for that. This kind of trial by media is never accurate and always harmful to the truth. https://www.rt.com/news/583231-russell-brand-metoo-accusations/

Most power supplies are rated between 100 and 240V, but you really need to look at the small print on the power supply itself. Good news... If you do blow up the power supply, it'll protect your speaker and you can order a replacement power supply for about $10 USD. https://www.lazada.co.th/products/19v-65w-ul-ac-13ft-jbl-xtreme-3-xtreme-2-xtreme-extreme2-jbl-boombox-1-2-i4583899459.html?spm=a2o4m.searchlist.list.9.440c333eIprIfs Edit: Looking at the photo above, it appears to be a USB C charger, which is even easier to find, given that there's not a bunch of different OD's and ID's like there are for (for example) laptop chargers.

Which input are you planning to use, and will it be 1/8" stereo jacks, 1/4" stereo jacks or RCA plugs? If it were me and I was in a hurry, I'd forgo traipsing around and just order it from Lazada. Select "Local Delivery" so you don't end up waiting for something from "up north". Found a lot of choices searching "bluetooth RCA" assuming your Marantz will use RCA input plugs. Unless (like me), you like scrounging. In that case, head over to the Ban Mo area near Chinatown and start on the little alley directly across from the McDonalds. Look especially off to your left as you're walking away from Mickey-D's. Wander all over that area, but don't bring more money than you want to spend. Because it's like a toy store for audiophiles (Edit: and electronics geeks and "makers" using Arduino, etc). https://bkk-lifestyle.com/must-see/ban-mo/

At least until Yingluck comes back.

Catch me up... Did that high quality foreign made rolling stock ever actually get paid for?

I've always wondered about those shops in Chinatown (BKK) that are openly making and selling license plates, in the wide open light of day.