RikDao

Hey, thanks Cuz!

Lovely morning in Chiang Mai! Anybody know of a good laptop repair place, one that's not too expensive? I got this device 3 yrs ago in the States...

So dumb it's smart, right? To you, at least? Thais, would they respond to this? Course not.

I was told once the reason the USA consulate in Chiang Mai is so large is that it

also housed the CIA. Principal reason for their presence was drug suppression

in the golden triangle area.

Drug suppression? Hahahahah! That's the best one I've heard all week! Hahahahah!

I guess they've moved on to Afganistan to do some more "suppressing."

So I was thinking about this the other day will Thailand ever be like countries in the west?

In 30 years will there be real traffic laws that are enforced?

Will there be power lines that aren't a total tangled mess?

Will the potholes be fixed?

Basically will the infrastructure be what it is in America or Europe?

Do you believe that will happened and if so how long?

Yo, check out India. Compared to there, Thai infrastructure is like West Germany. Love India, also Thailand, but neither country can just drop everything and start over. BTW, love Germany, too.

the farlangs in particular Brits and Americans have looted so much from so many places.

Umm, yeah. Duh?

And if they paid India back all the gold they looted and melted...

No offense to anyone, but for me, heat is worse if I complain, nay, even TALK about it. Same same with extreme cold, of course. Therefore, it bothered me a lot more when I was younger and didn't know this. I pretty much only talk about the weather when it's nice, like right now.

Interesting, I'll study up on that. Thanks.

Better educated Buddhists don't believe in reincarnation (or ghosts), but the doubtful hope to be reborn in the west...

Hmm, never heard that before. But that doesn't mean it's not true. Just like disbelief in reincarnation doesn't mean it's not a fact. I happen to believe in reincarnation, but who cares? Only me. Slightly off topic: I was born a "Christian," so they told me, but I'm not one.

As of about a month ago, China is the world's largest economy, 16.48% vs 16.28% for the US. China's also buying a lot of gold. However, none of that means poot because the price of gold is manipulated by the banksters in NY and London.

Source please. Inquiring minds want to know.

Google? World's largest economy, try that. And do you read the National Enquirer, or just quote their ad copy?

As of about a month ago, China is the world's largest economy, 16.48% vs 16.28% for the US. China's also buying a lot of gold. However, none of that means poot because the price of gold is manipulated by the banksters in NY and London.

This is based on method used by the IMF adjusts for purchasing power parity

In terms of GDP the USA is some $7 trillion dollars greater then China's GDP

As to the price of Gold being manipulated by big banks, thats an urban myth with no basis in reality

The Gold market, as with most markets, is too big to be manipulated. The Hunt brothers found this out in the late 70's when they tried to corner the Silver Market.

Countries that try to intervene in the currency market to support their currency just wast millions of dollars for a short term respite.

The original post is very accurate based on Technical considerations. Gold has broken below key support, and if this is not a fake out, will likely reach $1000/oz before real support again.

As to the Dollar it has probable begun a long term upward trend, coming off a double bottom, that will take it back to its old highs of 2002. (see chart)

This probable will have less affect on the Baht/dollar rate since , I think, the Baht is not freely traded but weight against a Basket of currencies.

Urban myth, whatever. Don't much care what you think; what I think is what matters to me. As far as the Hunt brothers, they tried to corner the silver market, but the banksters in New York had other plans. In other words, they manipulated the price down by shorting it, just like they're doing today in gold and silver, causing the Hunts to be wiped out of their long positions. Of course, computer trading has made all of this much, much simpler today. So, ostrich syndrome much? (Catchy little phrase, innit? Kinda like "urban myth," innit?)

As of about a month ago, China is the world's largest economy, 16.48% vs 16.28% for the US. China's also buying a lot of gold. However, none of that means poot because the price of gold is manipulated by the banksters in NY and London.

I'm gonna go waaaay out on a limb here and say:

NO WAAAAY!

Why? Plane might be late. Customs/passport will take longer than you think, esp since everyone knows you gotta be there by noon, prompting them to do a passive/aggressive on your booty. Cab driver will do same same. Plus, other farangs and Asians from wherever will be in front of you in line. Etc etc etc. If I could find a sucker, I'd bet on this one, cause, like sweet old daddy always said: Son, never make a bet unless it's a sure thing. Thanks, Daddy.

:-)

The low price for Iron Ore is hurting the AUD, along with the new restrictions China has placed on coal fired emissions.... Australia is a quarry, and sadly is at the mercy of world commodity markets... Look for above than expected Chinese growth figures and the AUD will strengthen.... The other yolk around the neck of the AUD, is the highest unemployment figures in 12 years.. Business, has openly lost confidence in the government which is another small but important factor.

The USD is rallying, rightly or wrongly, we have to wait and see... The USD jumped on the election of the republicans a couple of days ago, but I feel that may be short lived optimism.

I think the silver lining is the Baht, IMO, it is heading for a decline... The stimulus package either hasn't been effective or has only in part been implemented... that is unclear, because the current Thai Govt, is a very confusing animal itself... The projected growth rate for Thailand is 1.5%, well below like countries in the region....

Gold is low atm, at 1133 USD, but I would wait.. I have seen forecasts of 800 USD by the end of 2015.. whether that happens or not is another thing.

YO! The dollar rallied because of the Republicans the other day??? LOL. And it'll be short-lived??? Double LOL!

The dollar has been in a sustained rally since last May, when it bottomed out (last 12 months prices, anyway) at about .79 euros, I believe. Now it's .88. Yeah, it rallied a little bit the other day, more than usual like you said, but it's been rallying for quite a while, against all other currencies, and if not against all, against most, for sure.

And the Repukes are known for hubris. They will self-destruct, maybe very quickly, since those boys and girls would sell their own mommies for the right price. They'll turn on and eat other alive, just watch. They haven't had any positive ideas or programs for decades. Hill will be sitting pretty in 2 years time... In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if Bill, Hill, and Barry didn't plan it this way.

As fas as the baht is concerned, it's been doing what every currency has been doing vs the dollar.

I'm sure I'm the only one who cares, but I believe in God, for sure; however, that doesn't prove that God exists. I always chuckle (I used to get annoyed) when I hear people say they don't believe in God, therefore God doesn't exist. If you believe in the Tooth Fairy, does that mean the Tooth Fairy left a quarter under your pillow last night?

Yeah, I've had some OBEs, or OOBEs for our British friends. But TV is most assuredly the LAST blinking place on earth I'd talk about them.

Wow - Well said!

Wha huh? Every country has some of the world's most beautiful.. Oh, never mind.

Old people.

Way too many nasty old farangs in Thailand. They need to leave the women alone. Go home.

Yeah, being an old farang, I can understand the nasty old farang issue. Most of the real curmudgeons like to sit around and nurse vile beer while they talk about soccer, er, football, just like they do back home. Unhappy there, same same here. I wouldn't mind if they went home, either. I mean, who needs a bunch of hung-over, dispeptic football hooligans around anyway, right? Of course, I'm not talking about any particular country here... I guess one good thing about them, from a Thai's POV: they're virtually NO THREAT to Thai women

However, with regard to the women: Thailand, like most countries in the world, is home to some of the world's most beautiful women. And, from what I can tell, the place has more than its share of over-30 beautiful, healthy, intelligent, SANE, and lonely women. Sure, they can use our money, just like women everywhere. Big deal. They're worth it, many of them. Maybe it's an Asian thing, but throwing women under the bus after they hit 30 is pretty strange, if you ask me, and it's no wonder western men take advantage of the situation.

Many are correct when they say that things like this happen in every country. What amazes me is that everyone just sits and there is no reaction. Granted the video is only a clip but I think if I had witnessed a murder and was in a car I would have run the guy off the road. Again, it happened fast and reaction time slow but everyone just sits and watches? Sure hope they get this guy.

OMG! LOL! This is the funniest post in this entire thread! Must be from one of them White Man's Burden kind of countries.

(Hold me back, Martha, hold me back I say! I don't care if he has a gun!)

PS - i tawt I taw a puddy tat!

What a country! Peaceful loving people.

Oh get off it! This happens in every country.

Yeah, pretty much. I have to go with the execution theory, though. Guy wasn't raging much. Prolly said: Vito sends his regards. Acting too calm for it to be a road rage thing, had on the helmet, slithered away casually. I'll keep my eyes peeled at the news to see if they catch the guy.

Funny, all the anti-Thai comments. People see something on a vid, something done by one guy, and they're off to the races with the Thai-bashing. Just so weird to me that they stay here; maybe they should try Mexico or someplace peaceful. By and large, Thais are a peaceful, tolerant lot.

Although I hear what you are saying, its not saying much when the only way to can prove how safe Thailand is is by comparing it against mexico. Why not just compare it against Syria?

Not really trying to prove anything, brother, I just happen to know about Mexico, but I shouldn't have brought it up. I'm American, but despite all the news about the place being violent, it seems safe and peaceful enough, as long as you don't overtly mess with the wrong guy. Kind of like Thailand. Of course, if they did Thai-style traffic there, look out, son! You'd be seein' some road rage you definitely wouldn't wanna see... Not denigrating Thais, that's just how they roll here, and I accept that.

Hey, I'd love to teach English to Thais on a volunteer basis, but on my retirement visa, even volunteer work is a no-no. Strange, that rule. Anybody on here know why they have that?

(Umm, I know it's not a retirement visa, it's an extension of a non-immigrant O visa, based on retirement. Thanks.)

Phuket road rage shooter will be caught soon police

Nattha Thepbamrung

Rescue workers take Mr Chaliao's body away after the shooting.

PHUKET: Police believe it will not be long before they catch the man who shot dead motorbike taxi driver Chaliao Piyapanikul at around 9:30 am today (October 30).

Phuket Police Commander Maj Gen Patchara Boonprasit told the press this afternoon that the case was still being treated as one of road rage.

Witnesses told us that the victim use to be a boxer and was quite hot-tempered. They said that whenever he got into an argument he would start a fight.

We dont think the two men had met before. Witnesses said Mr Chaliao honked his horn continuously at the shooter, which may have raised the temperature, he explained.

They started shouting at each other until they stopped at the red light. Mr Chaliao said he was going to get the other man.

Witnesses said the other man warned Mr Chaliao many times that if he got off his bike he would be shot, but apparently he did not listen. After he got off the bike, he was shot around four times before the shooter left the scene.

I believe it will not be hard to find the gunman; Phuket police will definitely arrest him very soon, he added.

Phuket Town Police superintendent Sermphan Sirikong told The Phuket News that police have the license plate number of bike the shooter was riding but were not sure if the plates were fake or if the rider was also the owner of the bike.

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-road-rage-shooter-%E2%80%98will-be-caught-soon%E2%80%99-police-49409.php

-- Phuket News 2014-10-30

Well, if all this is true, I'm wrong about the execution theory.