jimmybcool

The reality is the bottom of that list would be near the top of the list in 1995. Quality across the board has been raised by modern design and production. So his statement all companies make good cars is accurate. Personally I love German cars and haven't owned an American car in years but if forced to limit myself I would not feel deprived. Lincoln makes wonderful luxury vehicles that fit my needs.

In general you are correct. It is a global economy. Because I despise the Chinese government (not it's people) I do try to buy made anywhere else. Good luck buying any electronic that doesn't have some Chinese parts or labor. However, my guitars would dispute your assertion. While the wood might be imported (Indian rosewood, mahogany, etc) the work is 100% USA. Mind you that is for higher end instruments. And I also owned a Yamaha guitar in Thailand made in Japan that was a fine instrument so not a guitar bigot here. 😃

Not sure banning masks is the right answer. But I can see adding criminal charges for being part of a protest and committing acts of violence or destruction while trying to conceal your identity. Say an automatic extra 100 days in jail no pleas or pardons.

Alec, I'll take "things that only happened in the fevered minds of left wing loons for $400 please". 😅

Yup. 2026 and it will be a memory. Too long too close ties to cause a real rift.

As an American all I want from the rest of the world is respect and a working relationship in all our best interests. Which I believe is all foreign nations owe us in return. And I don't want back to normal. Back to normal is the last 30 years of USA subsidizing solution s to much of the worlds problems. And providing most of the worlds military support as a counter to aggression fro the likes of Russia, China, Iran and N Korea. Problem is - USA can no longer afford an unequal level of trading to favor the rest of the world allowing access to our markets while protecting their own via tariffs. We are broke. Or darn near. Yeah, feeling will be hurt. Some will suffer, both abroad and at home. But better the let down is slow and controlled than a massive collapse. I am not an economist but this is what I think is happening and hope it works where nations that have enjoyed an unfair advantage against US companies in the past now play on an even playing field. Especially China. They do everyting in their power to prevent equal trading. And I'm sure someone will mention the failure of the US to counter aggression from Russia and try to tie it to Trump. Yet both invasions of Ukraine occurred with presidents Obama and Biden. Is Trump ceding victory to Russia? Looks like they got it unless we really want to go to war. Leaving us now with two paths. All out war to destroy Russia's military (which will take full Nato effort and cost a lot in attrition - wonder how many people here belittling Trump want their 18 year old sons on those front line), or concede what they have now. Since Russia is also a nuclear power sympathies to the Ukrainians but I pass on all out war. Personally I would have been all for immediate joint effort by Nato to stop Russia in the first few weeks of invasion. Instead the effort simply gave Ukraine the minimum amount of weapons to fight a slower losing battle. Whatever. I am no geopolitical expert either.

My guess it is in their storerooms. When this spat blows over, and it will, they will restock using the same inventory but pricing might be different.

An article from the Guardian? Bwahahahahahaha

Pattaya. So bad no one goes there anymore. It's too crowded. 🤣

I worked in Silicon Valley at a start up in the 80s and 90s. I worked with some real genius engineers. But some of them also lacked other skills socially. In the end most of us gat handed a set of assets. Some more than others. And I wished I had been gifted with athletic prowess instead of intelligence. Or in music I always wanted to sing like Robert Plant in Led Zeppelin but was given a voice more along the lines of James Taylor or Harry Chapin. Grass is always greener I guess.

I would agree tests are really only useful within a set of one culture. Testing an aborigine who lives i the outback versus a westerner would get massively different results but inherent intelligence might be the same. But testing within the same culture can give one a clue as to how smart someone is in their own setting. In my case I don't claim to be a genius. Genius is in results not just a test. I was always good at tests having an innate ability to guess the right answer. Based on things I DID do in my career I do have a higher IQ in some areas. But no big brag. No genius (I worked with some).

Well no actually I think you are wrong. I am not expert so open to being corrected. I think the results in the west are on a scale so that 100 is always the average. But, there are more 90 IQ people than 110. Not sure of the details but anyway the average person in the west should be within 90-110 range with more below the 100 line. Not that any of that matters I also test higher than average and did so very young without much education at the time.

I voted yes. But not because I consider Thais stupid. Based on life outcome and IQ testing I am smarter than the average human. Nothing to brag about. Some people are better athletes and some are smarter. Having read a bit about IQ in general the consensus seems to be that national or racial gaps between different cultures and races is very small. It appears larger here due to our interacting with mostly under-educated people. Doesn't mean they are stupid just never taught to think.

I'm OK getting to the check in counter. And standing for a little bit if I have to. I feel guilty needing this. Problem is in my left hip but I think the cause is in the back. Pisses me off because I had a hip replacement in the left hip Sept 2023. Might not have needed that and the issue might need a different resolution. Aging sucks. Guess it is better than being dead. Weird part about all this is I can't walk distance. Or stand around long. But I can still play golf. Totally weird.

Thanks. Then I am good to go. I can make it from curb to check in no worries.

Hate to admit it but I need this service. I just contacted my airline (ANA) and they have confirmed I am booked for it. Thing is I can walk short distances (like up to 1000 yards before the pain is overpowering) and have never used it before. I have no clue how to get to the counter or where the wheelchair will be,, I was told to go to Counter L on Level 4. Anyone with experience doing this I'd appreciate your guidance.

You mean just like Obama when Putin took Crimea right?

I don't support the death penalty AS CURRENTLY APPLIED. Too many cases of poor people convicted with bad legal representation. And unequally applied to minorities. In cases of especially heinous crimes where guilt is not in doubt I believe it would be a deterrent if it happened within a year of verdict. Taking 20 years for appeals and the like doesn't work because most people capable of committing a crime worthy of this penalty don't think that far ahead.

Narcissist? Yes I agree. Pretty much goes with the job for anyone that has run the last 30 years. And he is absolutely in love with the camera. But amoral? No I think he believes he is saving the USA. And in some ways he is doing many things that have needed doing for a long time. This DOGE thing so hated by the left is exactly what needed to happen. It should have happened back in the Clinton/Bush/Obama eras before the debt got this large. it will hurt now but has to be done to save the USA from a major recession which in turn would cause a worldwide recession. Regarding these tariff wars there are other reasons than saving jobs. In the case of China force equal competition. If they want to sell their stuff in the US with no tariff then don't impose one on US products there. I approve. In the case of Canada and Mexico I am unsure where we stood on equal trade. I do know part of Trumps comments have been demanding a better effort to control fentanyl smuggling through them into the USA which causes over 70,000 deaths in the US annually. Mind you we could also do a better job of lowering demand via enforcement of users. I don't approve of every action Trump takes. I do not understand his stance on Ukraine. Or some of the tariffs. But I don't pretend I know enough to judge. I'll wait and see the results. All I can do.

I suspect if a person is in country on a student visa and they engage in protests that promote terrorist groups and violence or threats to other groups that is reasonable grounds to terminate their visa and expel them. Not sure of any nation on earth where this wouldn't be grounds for expulsion.

I have tried it at the one you show. Was kind of just OK for me. And I do not know of a good one in Pattaya. I also LOVE Khao Soi and wish I could advise.

I agree Nazi flags are abhorrent. I think they are banned in many places but even if not so be it. The difference is though subtle very real. Hamas and other current terror groups are committing atrocities NOW not 80 years ago. The people waving flags for Hamas and other Islamic terror groups are intimating American citizens of Jewish faith NOW. They wave the flags with intent to intimidate. Not sure I care about confederate flags since that war is SOOOOOO long ago and they were in rebellion not a terror group or one that committed genocide on millions. I seriously don't fear a rise of the south again based on some guys with old flags.

Seems like the aggressor in the incident got the right response. Well, perhaps too much response so lets hope he pulls through and it's a learning experience to not abuse total strangers when drunk.

Apparently Russia was always much weaker than Nato. It has just been exposed by their failures in Ukraine. Pretty clear now in a non-nuclear war between Nato (with US) and Russia it is very one sided.

I was for a while too. Was told it is pollution related not a virus. Have no idea what is true but a week later and I am fine.