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Yes. Many have been saying that for decades. But what does Capt Hegesth know about DOD Contract accountability or how the US Military spends during combat operations? As much as I know For instance I loved eating at KBR Dining Halls in A-stan. The meals were alwasy great. On some Fridays at Camp Eggers(which was located within walking distance from the US Embassy in Kabul) they had lobster. So I asked a Colonel what KBR charge per meal. He was not sure but he thought it was about $20 per person up to 4x a day(this is because the 4th meal was served at midnight). The KBR contract for DOD dining halls was huge. I have no idea if that was ever audited. I believe what Eisenhower said about the military industrial complex beceame reality and still thrives. Pete Hegseth can't do anything to change it.

We are talking about combat zone and sometimes the last thing on anyones mind it to keep track of the spending. DCAA auditors were all civilian GS types and most were on the slightly older side. Record keeping was not exactly a priority from what I saw. SIGAR (Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction) was suppose to "track the money". SIGAR was supposed to track exactly where over $140 Billion went. Apparently SIGAR is still active and is suppose to end in September 2025. I wonder what the final report will say?

In CNX for 7 years and this morning had a close call walking back from the gym. I was walking in a small soi and a Honda City veered towards me because cars were parked in the soi. As most of us know the Soi's are narrow. I had to turn sideways and missed the car. As usual the driver could care less. As a cardinal rule I never wear headphones because sometimes "you can hear it before you see it". That is unless an EV is approaching from behind. Also, "keep your head on swivel" was the mantra while on foot patrol in A-stan.

Ah difficult to track DOD spending. I got a first look at it during my deployments to A-stan. Civil Affairs officers had the mission to help the locals build schools, government buildiings etc. In the end the locals were handed $100 dollar bills to get the job done. How would this program be audited? No receipts were generated. This is just one example of DOD spending. There was also DCAA (Defense Contract Audit Agency) people in A-stan and I do not konw what they were actually doing. The DCAA was supposed to ensure taxpayer dollars were spent in accordance with contracts but most of never knew exactly what the contracts specified. Of course auditing DOD contracts at stateside bases or at Defence Contract firms could be simpler.

I do not believe he will last long. Give him enough rope and he will hang himself. Does he really believe he can be in charge of an organization with 3 Million(military, civilian and contractors)?

What is the Thai word for Redundacy? TM-30 address, 90 Day report address and TM 6 address. Only thing left is to consider a chip implanted in the passport to have real time location of all foreigners in the Land of Smiles.

Singapore the ETA come back within hours. For S. Korea the ETA took two hours but the fee was about $9. For Malaysia they call it an MDAC(Malaysia Digital Arrival Card). It is not an ETA but something similar to a TM 6. The MDAC was difficult to get and it was not a seamless process. These three countries do not have anywhere close to 30 to 40 million arrival per year. I am not sure how any Thai immigration online process could seamlessly handle that many inputs and respond in a timely manner.

This plan for the obline TM 6 sounds a little bit like the MDAC(Malasian Digital Arrival Card). I went to KL two weeks ago and had to apply for an MDAC on the Malaysian Immigration website. The usual questions were asked: passport, flight arrival and departure and the address of my accommodation. Obviously Malaysia has never had 30 to 40 million arrivals per year and so i thought it would be a seamless process. It was not. I could only submit the MDAC application two days before departure. Also, Malaysian mmigration never sent me an email to confirm the MDAC had been approved. I had to track my MDAC applicaton on the Malaysian website and after about 20 minutes I found the MDAC Pdf. I had the MDAC pdf one day before departure. I wonder how Thai immigration will roll out the online TM 6? Also, when I checked in for my flight from CNX to KL the checkin desk asked to see my MDAC. So the next question is if one does not have an Online TM 6 will an airline deny checkin?

It does not sound like this is going to be an ETA which requires approval? Or does it? How long will it take to process? Will there be a fee? "Things always go smoothly"??? At least I hope so.

The only way a foreign governmental agency of any kind ould have any kind of advisory role to direct the local police to arrest a foreigner would be if the suspected foreigner had commited a crime in another country or has a warrant for his or her arrest. So having sex with an uderage girl in LOS would be a crime only the Thai authorities could arrest for.

Sorry I only saw this part of the menu.

Ok. I was wrong but I did see the 3900 Baht steak when I checked last time I was at Emisphere.

Did he visit his restaurant at Emishphere? You know the one where a steak starts at 3200 Baht.

I do see the end game for Foreigner Tax or Foreigner Income Tax matters: Tax Prepartion Agents for Thai Tax Residents. I cannot imagine me sitting in front of Thai Revenue Agent having an indept discussion about 1031 exchanges, distribtions from Roth or Traditional IRA's , taxable or tax exempt dividends and lasty short term or long term capital gains. In the past these subjects came up in my tax returns and I have always used a CPA to file my tax returns. Lately my income tax returns are less complicated but still require a CPA to file them. I wonder if a Visa Agent and a Expat Tax preparatiion agent can work out of the same office? Also, I wonder how much a Thai Tax return filed by an agent would cost? Streamlined and efficient are rare in the Land of Smiles.

I have a state pension and a monthly payment from an IRA distribution. So at this point it seems like "clear as mud" to me.

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I think watching this video first might give a new driver in LOS an idea as to what to expect.

I do not think it applies to everyone. Knew the father of a friend who was a bartender for 40 years. He drank almost everyday. I once saw him drink at dinner two beers, half a bottle of wine and finished the night with Lemoncello(yes he was Italian). He died peacefully at 88. Also, was a combat photographer during WWII. RIP. I drink two beers or a glass of wine with dinner several times a week and I am in my early 60's. So far no isssues. I have maintained this for almost 30 years. On the otherhand I maintain a 22 BMI and BP 115/75.

Often because many don't see me as a big enough "fish" to reel in. I maintain a very modest appearance and do not flash the image as someone who has money even though I do. Also, as an Asian guy I do not draw much interest from Thai girlls in the first place. Most think I am a rude and obnoxious Chinese guy who is cheap. That is until they realize I speak fluent English like a white guy. Then many are confused.

"Relationship or Arrangement?". It seems more like arrangement rather than an actual relationship in many cases. The man provides the $ and the lady provides what he asks for. It could even work out on a long term basis if both parties actually understand what it really is. The notion of romantic feelings or genuine affection from either party is mostly the expectaions set by western movies, tv and novels.

I really wish she would not have mentioned Donald Trump's numerous bankrupticies and pepper him with questions on Defense policy and current missions. For instance she could have asked Mr Fox and Friends what is the name of the US Army base in the Marshall Islands and why is it strategically important? It is clear all he knows is "indo Pacfic" and this means S.Korea, Japan and Australia only. My guess is this is the first time he has heard the term ASEAN. I do not see him lasting long as Sec Def. His true nature will come out while he is in office. When I was in the Army we had a saying "any rank above Captain is a political position". Sec Def is a political position and not a warrior position. In recent memory my favorit Sec Def was Robert Gates. Someone like him would have been a better choice.

Can you imagine 30 million ETA's for Thailand? In the last 2 years I have completed 3 ETA's or Entry/Arrival documents for three different countries. 1) Singapore 2) S Korea 3) Malaysia. Both SIN and SK were very quick to respond with the entrance documents. Both took under 4 hours to land in my email inbox. Malaysia was a diffrent. For instance for Malaysia a foreigner could only apply up to 2 days before departure. I was concerned I would not get the doucment in time. I never got an email from Malaysian Immigration so I went into their webiste and found out the MDAC(Malaysian Digital Arrival Card) had been approved in 8 hours. The three countries I visisted that requierd some kind of ETA or Entrance documents do not get anywhere near 30 million arrivals per year. I wonder what any future Thai ETA experience could be like?

I know that but since I have moved into this area electricity outages were a common thing in spring and summer. Ranging from an hour to 4 hours. This is area is mixed use. Anyway this time it was only 90 minutes.

7 years and first time electricity has gone out in January. Power outagse during the middle of summer have occurred and is understandable.

Currently it is the middle of winter in Amzaing Chiang Mai. The temperature is about 20 C and the electricty just went out in my neighborhood (I live close to the Nimman area in CNX). First time that I can recall that electricity went out in early January. I wonder how many air conditioners are on now?