impulse

Gosh. I like to hear what both sides have to say. But if I'm ruining the acoustics of your echo chamber, feel free to put me on ignore. In fact, I'd prefer if you did. And to answer your question, since it was Russkies operating Russkie made, Russkie language air defense missiles in Belgorod, they probably do better than Ukes operating English language air defenses.

That's a lot of factoids. With absolutely nada to back them up.

Just curious... Has anyone actually sharpened theirs? I just replaced the blades. Which, of course, limits the choices to brands that I can find blades for.

Good info...

I don't know about Oz, but my banks closed all my US bank accounts (checking and savings) when they figured out I was no longer a resident of the USA. My investment accounts stayed open, but that was a PITA to work out of for month to month stuff. Same thing happened to my (much wealthier) brother when he worked in Kazakhstan.

Here's an even better candidate for a Darwin award... Seen it quite a few times, drunks popping off rounds into the air to celebrate the New Year. Las Vegas MGM Grand wasn't a good place to do that after recent history. It'll be interesting to see what the guy's story is. It wouldn't be funny had there been any injuries... That's why I suspect hope the guy was just drunk. https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2023/12/developing-massive-police-swat-response-signature-mgm-grand/

I can't help but wonder if anyone's been caught out by a paperwork snafu that would delay one month's deposit. I'd certainly have tight sphincter condition based on some experiences with international wire transfers where a single digit or errant letter caused me grief. Usually it was my paycheck and quickly straightened out. I'd hope SS deposits would go smoothly once they were dialed in. But... Anyone have a horror story?

The problem (as I see it) with hydrogen is that you're just pushing the problem up or down the supply chain. It takes energy to split H2O into H2 and O2. That energy has to come from somewhere. In that respect, it's like charging an EV using electricity produced in a coal (or gas) fired power plant. Contrast that to oil and natural gas that comes out of the ground with the energy built in, over eons, by nature. I'm not saying that EV's and hydrogen don't have a place, and technology and infrastructure isn't developing that make it cleaner and more sustainable. Just that you have to look at the whole energy chain to figure out whether they're doing right by the planet, or just virtue signaling.

Heavy on the "without a trial". In the Maine case, there was no open discussion, no opportunity to defend himself or present an argument on his behalf. Just a unilateral decision by a partisan hack. If there's anyone that doesn't bother, I don't understand their thinking. Because it may be you or yours that they come after next. Edit: I'd add that I didn't respond to Tug's post, because if he had substituted "Biden" for "Trump" he'd probably be getting a visit from the FBI.

The issue that I have with that (and not with you) is the politicians and greenies wanting to mandate EV's and eliminate ICE's completely. Long before, IMO, the EV's and infrastructure will be ready for prime time. That's a bet they're willing to take on my (our) behalf. Me, not so much. I think they're counting on changing our lifestyle as opposed to developing the tech and the charging infrastructure. For me in my last year in Thailand, I was hanging out with a woman that liked to spend weekends in a Wat around 3 Pagodas. So 2-3 times a month I'd fire up the pickup, pick her up after work and off we'd go. My kayak lived on top the pickup with a recumbent bike in the bed, so hiring a van wasn't a viable option. (I do question the wisdom of hanging out with her, since it never went anywhere.) Back home in Texas, I lived on Galveston Island and had family in Austin and deep East Texas. An EV would have been ideal around the island and my brother has a Prius for just that reason. For road trips, my Toyota Sienna takes me there and allows me to nap on a cot in the back since I recognized the danger of tired driving. The cot won't fit in the Prius and I can't tow the boats to the neighborhood boat ramp with it, either. Take away my ICE and I'll have to pay someone to launch the boats. And that's not cheap.

I wonder if this is one of the times that they haven't quite got it dialed in yet and it asks for a Thai ID #, but it should really ask for Thai ID# or PIN, depending on context? Please post back next time you try it and let us know if there's any changes.

Looking at their website, they apparently can't send the Wise cards to an address in Thailand, either. Nor to China, where I'm currently staying because of a personal issue. I guess that's good info, to get your Wise account set up back home before you come to Thailand... And keep your back home SIM activated internationally (which mine is, ouch)

Good info. I didn't realize there was a fee. Still, between a 55 baht fee and slogging down to the branch and waiting an hour in the queue, I'd pay the 55. Wouldn't be happy about it, but I'd pay it.

Works great if that's your lifestyle. I generally go on 2-3 road trips a month that exceed EV range. I've said before, if I ever become a multi-vehicle family (of one person) again, my main vehicle will be an EV. It works for 70-90% of my driving. But I can't see having an EV as my only vehicle, because of the 10-30% of road tripping. In fact, when I lived in Thailand, the only time I fired up the pickup was for road trips on weekends. During the week, I was a BTS/MRT/taxi fan.

Just spitballing here, because maybe I don't understand the issue... Would it be possible to do a cash deposit at a CDM using the one debit card, then move those funds from that account to your other accounts using your debit card at an ATM? Before I left Thailand, I loaned some baht to a workmate and she paid me back over a period of about 2 years while I was a Covid refugee back home. Obviously, she didn't need my debit card to deposit money to my account. Just my account number. (And there was no question who was sending me the money, it came from her account) I also recall making some purchases where I was able to use my debit card at a Thai ATM to pay 3rd parties for the goodies, with just their acct #.. I don't recall incurring any fees for either of those. Or has something changed above and beyond requiring CDM deposits to identify who's putting in the cash?

My brain leaks when I sleep, but I recall several years ago, I had to open a package I was mailing at Thai Post to show them the contents before they would accept the package. Again foggy in my memory, but it may have been during a time when Thailand was in a heightened security mode, like after the temple bombing. Anyone have a more recent experience at Thai Post?

Keeping in mind that it is RT, I wonder who's telling the truth? Rather than intercepting Russian missiles, Kiev’s Western-provided systems hit apartment blocks, Russia’s envoy to the UN said “But for the work of Ukrainian air defenses, there would have been simply no civilian casualties.” https://www.rt.com/russia/589951-ukraine-kill-civilians-un/

If you're in Bangkok, there's a huge metals market just west and southwest of Hua Lamphong train/MRT station. Blocks and blocks and dozens (hundreds?) of shops of all kinds of metals and structural steel. I used to wander around there for hours. Lots of tools, welders, screen, profiles, etc. I'd suggest galvanized for anywhere you can't slap on a coat of paint, like penetrating concrete, etc. But make sure the thickness is adequate. For example, my handy Chinese reference books shows 4.0, 5.0 and 6.0 mm thickness available in 100mm square steel tube. Some sizes, the choices are between 1.2mm and 5 mm for the same outside dimension, with half a dozen different thicknesses. Caveat emptor if you bid it out. Structural engineers will calculate the size and thickness you need, but that's a tough option in Thailand. Back in the nanny states, you'd need that stamped calculation from a PE to get a building permit... Edit: I'd add that there is hot rolled and cold rolled structural steel, but I'm not claiming to be an expert on the differences. My brain has leaked a lot since I worked with them in my shops in China.

TDS runs that deep.

Not to mention paying an extra (up to) $100 an hour for business class. Which is fine if you need it, but I still recall my youth shoveling dog poop out of Mrs. Junker's yard for under $2 an hour. Paying 50x that for a more comfortable seat just doesn't compute in my tiny brain. BTW, it may have been mentioned before, but I think they like Yanks because we're notorious for tipping... I 'spect Canucks do, too.

Yup. No doubt. But that's reality... You wanna pass by the crazies like these unarmed, be my guest. And if you live in or even visit a big city, you will pass by these crazies.

Maybe I'm reading wrong, but I think the OP wants to use QR codes to make payments, not to receive them. Specifically, tapping into a foreign credit/debit card as opposed to a Thai bank account. I'm interested in that myself... I also imagine a lot of tourists without Thai bank accounts would like to carry less cash with them. And I'm certainly not going to pull out the plastic for a 100 baht coffee or 7/11 purchase, even where they take international cards.

If you drill down the FBI statistics, you'll find that there are certain demographics that do most of the shooting, and the getting shot. I don't worry about it so much where I live.

If a partisan hack with no legal degree can unilaterally decide Trump's actions around Jan 6 are "insurrection", what's to keep a Repub SOS from making the same declaration about Biden's actions in regards to neglecting the southern border? It would be just as wrong, denying hundreds of thousands of voters a voice based on one person's opinion. But it works both ways.

If the Supreme Court doesn't overturn these decisions, we'll see a rash of Republican election officials blocking Biden from running, for what's happening at the southern border. They'll be just as wrong, of course. But they'll be left with little choice.