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Yes, especially on fruits and vegetables from CA. This might balance the budget alone.

The State of Illinois has three big problems that the Governor should prioritize or is testing the waters for a presidential run more important. Illionois has a current budget deficit, state debt and unfunded pension liabilties. All three numbers are in the billions. I mean these could be difficult question during a possible presidential campaign?

Next time I am looking for a male IO at the entry counter.

Early March I came back from a one month trip to LA. I am on the 2nd year of an OA VIsa with a Multi Re entry permit. My End of Stay is not for another 11 months. Yes I got lucky with a female IO at the entry counter after gettiing off a flight from Incheon S. Korea. I spent 10 minutes in front this IO as she looked at just every page of my passport. I had also presented my boarding pass and mandatory OA Health Insurance document but she was not interested in those. She then asked me "where is your visa?". I pointed to the page with my valid reentry permit. She then went back to looking at my passport pages. At the end of 10 minutes of looking she looked up and said "do fingerprints again". She then stamped me in and waved me through. First time I have had this kind of entry experience at CNX airport. Makes me wonder???

I think you are correct. But i have had the same number with True for almost 8 years with the samd Passport and I have never been contacted about coming in for this.

The other day I saw a lady get on a treadmill at the gym. Yes she was wearing a mask. Like most of the Thai people in my gym she slowly walked on the treadmill for about 10 minutes and had to cool off. Even after 7 years in CNX and I speak basic conversational Thai (make the usualy mistakes with tones) and still don';t understand how most Thai people think or not. I guess I never will and my only goal is to just get along.

About a year ago the Bangkok Bank was locked and I got a text message to come to a local branch. I had to birng in my passport and have my face registered. I guess I am now in compliance?

I have a similar experience in my 7 years in CNX. Just today i got into the elevator and a young Thai mother put her child behind her as if to shield her from danger. I realize at 5"8", 150 lbs, with short hair, clean shaven, no tatoos or scars, wearing clean shirt/pants and had just showered that I pose a threat to Thai children. Anyway I consider these types of events and reactions from Thai people as "just another day in LOS". I made the choice to come here and decided to stay for years so I can't expect anything else. On otherhand I did something new: I gave each member of the cleaning staff n my building 100 Baht for Songkran. The smiles lasted about a day. Things have now gone back to normal; They mostly acknowledge my presence in the common area and to make it easier for them so I leave for the day when they clean my room. This way it is better for everybody. I now prefer minimal contact with Thai peo;ple. They seem to want the same except for when I buy a product or service.

Wow. That is fast.

How long did it take get approval and how long did it take get your first payment? My application is rather simple. It is just me. No ex, no kids etc, etc. I have not workedf for a FICA covered employer in over 13 years. I collect a state pension but with the passage of the Social Security Fairness act my pension no longer penalizes me.

Ok.Sorry I offended you. When did I blame anything on Trump? I just stated facts on the status of my applicatio. It is called sarcasm. Some get it, some don't. Also, when I did complain about my life. Life is actually good excecpt for a lack of progress on SSA. Is your life "Sxxt"? Mine is not. Also, I do not classify anything about you as "stupid" because I do not know you or anything about you. You might be stupid as well or not.

Was this before Trump 2.0, DOGE and the Tesla Guy? I just pased 60 days after submitting my SS at 62 online application. The only thing I know is " a representative in Manila is reviewing your application and this process should take 30 days". The 30 days has passed. a month ago. It is a good thing I don't need the money but one has to wonder what is the current state of SSA? My goal for SS has always been to collect somethiing at the earliest age in case it implodes anytime before 2035.

You got me. My highest was 52.

I know it has been really hot but some other places are even hotter. I spent a few months in Kuwait and being outside was the defintion of misery. I saw 48 a few times. Only saving grace was low humidity. As long as one does not have to do manual labor outside then I think most of us will get through it. Just hope the AC doesen't go out or the electricity gets interrupted.

He said Bangkok Bank card? Netflix Thailand accepts Bangkok Bank debit card without issues. This could be an alternative if one wants to consume Neftlix content while in Thaialnd. For Thailand and just about anythiing that comes out of Thailand it is better to use Thaialnd based cards. I have encountered so many problems with using my US based credit cards for business from Thailand(Bangkok Airways, Thai Airways and many hotels). It is has been like this for me for years. Also, how can I use one card from a from a foreign country for a service in Thailand through a local bank? Are you saying that Thailand companies use Thai based banks as payment processors and this is the problem?

I have Netflix Thailand and Bangkok Bank Debit has been acceptedf for monthly payments without problems. Same for Disney Hotstar but had to cancel it due poor content.

On Hegsetth I believe he was never qualified for the position but I doubt he is somekind of Russian agaent. Since when I did I express that I was on "this team"? Again I do not know who or what you are. Also, I do not care to ever know so I do not call you names or label you. What about you?

Same problem here. I can't get the tones just right so the locals many times do not seem to understand what I am saying. I live in Chiang Mai and I once said to a driver "Nimman Soi hoke". He gave me a puzzled look. Then he smiled and said "neeemaan Soieee hoooke". I guess "same, same but different". I gave up years ago on learning the tones of this language. On the otherhand whenever I go to S. Korea I have no problem in communicating in the local language. In essence I will never be able to master any tonal language like Thai.

Again, why am I a Partisan liar? It is no longer KGB. It is now the FSB.

Timing? He just died. He overcome double pnuemonia.

But the meeting looked dignified. Mayb the Pope told Vance how he felt. A man of lifelong service and dignity has died.

I lived in CA for over 50 years. It was good in the 1990's. Things really took a turn in the 2000;s. But CA is also a very big place. I still have hope for Orange County. Most of the bad news comes out from Los Angeles and San Francisco (Bay Area in general and this includes Oakland). Yes the cost of living is unbearable but I have been looking up rentals in Orange County and probaly will move back in early 2026. Irvine CA in the OC has been rated as one of best cities in the nation. Of course it is not cheap to live in a safe city but I am willng to pay at least $2,000 a month for a small studio or 1 Bed. CA will always be home and I plan on making Orange County the next stop in this life. Most of Orange County is the last bastion of conservative thinking in CA.

My point was tax cuts alone were not the driver of the deficts during Bush I and II. After 9-11 the US Governmet went on massive spending spree. DHS (Department of Homeland Security) was created in 2002 and this lead to more massive spending. The official reason for all this massive spending to "Fight the war against terror". I still don't understand what this actually meant.

What about the spending to keep the Iraq and Afghan wars going at the same time? I was deployed to both areas and we were literally throwing money out in both placss. I was told by a Colonel that anwywhere between 1 to 2 Billion per month in A-stan and at a minium 5 Billion per month in Iraq. My unit had a USAID guy attached to us and his mission was to help Afghan locals build schools and in the end he gave away bags of $100 dollar bills to local leaders and declared "mission accomplished". An accurate cost to fund both wars will probably never be accomplished. I think it will be in the trillions and definitely added to the national debt. At this point 36 Trillion and still growing and no plan to address it.

Ok. I am also a troll. Thanks and "yes we can". I get it. I have heard that sayiing in Spanish many times over the years. Mostly while I was part of a riot control team in LA. Were you ever part of a protest in LA in the past?