TorquayFan

Yes Gecko but OralB is a major brand, (I use their toothbrush), but imo very good.

We use "WAZZ", (believe it or not), a herbal toothpaste bought on the internet. Not cheap, about B100. After many years, it seems to be very effective but it tastes quite strong. Ingredients include wasabi, clove oil, guajava leaf extract, asper leaf extract, and potassium nitrate. Just cover 1/4 of the toothbrush - a tube lasts a long time.

I've had a problem with rats twice. My solution which has worked for a couple of years, is to put large white 'mothballs' in eggcups on the floor underneath the engine. A cheap solution which seems to work. Prevention is better than clear up ? Good luck . .

Well OK - as a Brit I would prefer that Andrew proves to be innocent of these charges, BUT, if he is guilty then he should be prosecuted like anyone else. As it is, Andrew has been the subject of especially brutal treatment when although he has (foolishly ?) denied having sex with a 17 year old, who to me looked to be enjoying the high life on which she had embarked. I've always thought that when, in later decades, maybe Giuffre regretted her choices and she and the Family saw the opportunity to make money. Andrew may yet prove to be guilty of wider and more serious offences, in which case he'll take the consequences for sure. But meantime, he will be hounded constantly, as if he had already been found guilty, and in that he has my sympathy. What a contrast to the USA where the President is weaving and dodging to confuse further scrutiny, ably and rigorously aided by senior members of his Govt. ! Maybe it's one extreme to the other . . . (Footnote : I watched 'One Life' yesterday, a film about Nicholas Winton who saved 669 children from Prague in 1939 - decades later, he meets Elizabeth Maxwell, (the Mother of Ghislaine). She arranges for many of the now grown up 'kids' to reunite with Winton - all very touching. Winton's scrapbook of events is shown in the holocaust museum in Israel).

Perhaps the 'Bureaucrats' have it in mind that to help the Pensioners is the greatest priority. Many Thai Pensioners are extremely poor in a Country which has the 6th worst inequality in the World. It's surely worthy to perceive this as a greater need, (or a better vote catcher), than to bring more Retirees over from abroad - and they would be right IMO ! Frankly, Thailand may already have enough Falang retirees. 'Tightwad' Falang objecting to this move will be seen as intrusive and frankly, cocky and self-important. Really Guys, if Thailand puts the poorest first for once, three cheers I say ! ATB

Sorry Mate but as I say, Tightwad ! Very good for the poorest Pensioners, (as long as they can keep the Family away ☹️). I would be really sorry if you had to pay B5 extra for your noodles NOT. ATB

I'm repeating this earlier post because, it's such a brilliant idea, (to increase the Thai pension to B3,000). To those who grumble about possible corruption when VAT rises, well maybe, (it's Thailand), but that won't affect the Pensioners who will still be entitled to the B3,000. And to those who say, "ah but the Pensioners will have to pay extra VAT too" - well yes, but at worst, that would mean the Pensioners paying the Govt. an extra B258 from the extra B2,400 they would receive, broadly a benefit of B2K plus -that's wonderful for them !! Pension of B600 @ 7% = VAT B42 pm. Pension of B3,000 at 10% = VAT B300 pm. So to the ten + tightwads who gave the dreaded red finger to my original post' applauding this proposal, I say, shame on you ! The vast majority of Falang Pensioners living in Thailand are likely to be on a minimum of B30,000 monthly, TEN TIMES THE PROPOSED THAI PENSION. 'Tightwad' is putting in politely !! Thanks Guys - all good fun . . . .

Mump - the virtual eradication of Polio was widely acknowledged for decades and the vaccine had been used worldwide in achieving that. But as it happens, I am against mRNA vaccines and the Covid vax too, but the Polio vax and many others were OK You're one of the crew that want to throw the babies out with the bathwater !

IMO this intent is to be applauded. Totally. A Pension of B600 per month is pathetic and imo it's inappropriate for us Falang to feel aggrieved by a small raise in Tax, (given many of us might be benefitting from Pensions of B30,000 per month and upwards). Well done Thailand ! Might be a move in the right direction . . . .

Vaccines have been extremely effective in eradicating Polio around the World. Measles, Cholera, Yellow Fever and many more are on that list. Just MHO but for understandable reasons the CV-19 vaccines were rushed and hindsight has brought some doubt and worries. And facts. The flawed Covid vaccines did reduce the numbers of people dying overall BUT the side effects also caused death later, and now. RFK is a loose cannon, like much of the Trump crew, but I do think he is right about the mRNA approach. Immunology is a much better way forward. E.G. a new 'Standard of Care' is coming through for melanoma with immunology, (being iSCIB1+ with a UK Company). Generally, I think a lot of the anti-vax feeling comes from the Covid vax problems, but most of the conventional Vax are fabulous. (Possible exception for me is the MMR multi-vax). JFK jnr and his views are off the wall, so is he. Some of the vaccines are great and it's madness to cut them Immunology and Immunotherapy with DNA are the way ahead. But traditional vax, largely, rule ok !

For me it's quite simple - of course Melania should have her Citizenship revoked - she cheated to get it. However, I feel it would be better to let the issue rest on the grounds that there are bigger fish to fry . . . . And surely, being married to Donald for so long is punishment, cruel punishment enough for her offence. Perhaps 2 years of probation is appropriate for Melania, with the requirement that she watches the 'Melania' movie, under supervision, every day !! I feel the USA needs to focus first on ridding itself of this vile and lunatic President. Please !

Credit to the Olympic Committee for excluding Russia and Belarus from the Winter Olympics. However, having done so, to exclude a competitor from Ukraine for this small mark of remembrance of fallen friends, seems pernickety to say the least. I feel very sorry for Vladislav H and IMO it's perfectly understandable he needs to make such a gesture. God bless Ukraine - year after year, Russia is crushing these brave people. Putin is a despicable tyrant and aggressor . . . . .

They have agreed to testify in an open hearing - isn't that enough?

Wattana - yes standards in UK public life are far from perfect but it's fair to point out the difference in the USA - Trump comes over as 100% corrupt !

Jonny F - Both Hilary and Bill Clinton have offered to testify in an open Senate Hearing but Trump has panicked at the prospect. Starmer is NOT implicated in the Epstein files at all - just accused of bad judgement because of Mandelson's links with Epstein. And you posted - "Maybe one day (if you weren't so simple) you can finally work out why Biden kept them under wraps". Not correct - matters were 'sub judice' - Biden did not hush them up. TTBOMKAB

Really Johnny - are you that simple ? Who are these Lefties - I'm guessing that for you it's anyone who doesn't support Trump ? (who is after all, uniquely devious and without any vestige of honour). Don't be too cocky - Trump is buried in disgrace on matters Epstein and his comeuppance seems to be on the way . . . So YOU be careful what you wish for too ! (BTW, the McSweeney demise shows that unlike the USA, in the UK there are still standards in public life).

Roadster that's a fact. And IMO a mistake. The voting system is crazy. But it's almost irrelevant - Labour are IN and should get on with it. Unite and say b*llocks to the Pundits.

Well said Mike. Hess is representing his Country NOT his barmy President or the idiotic Republican Party. Hess wants to be clear about that and well done him !

So McSweeney has gone ? Big deal ? He's not even an MP and in effect, just a gofer ! So get on with the job Labour . . . Labour won a sweeping victory with a massive 174 seat majority but on just 33% of the vote - the system is crazy. Glaring mistakes have been made by Starmer's Govt. but in the case of Mandelson, Starmer was faced with the prospect of a rampant and lawless USA President and the appointment seemed to me, to have been an understandable (but losing), gamble. The UK is one of many Nations ruled by anti-incumbency and a media overload that makes a sport of provoking the Public in overturning political figures - there's just too much 24 hour insight and examination and clever negativity. Why is this ? The basic situation in the UK is so damn bad with massive trade and debt crises just running on and on and no Party tells the electorate the honest truth. Therefore, the Govt never deals with the fundamentals and the electorate is ALWAYS disappointed. After Johnson was hounded out, the Truss farce ensured it's own demise. I'm not a Tory but I thought Sunak/Hunt were doing a good, steady job in the face of the almost insurmountable. Labour MP's should get ONSIDE and try to influence their Govt. quietly to face the real facts - I suspect they are just not bright enough. And when Labour are thrown out, (probably for worse alternatives), many of them will struggle to get a job that pays as well as being an MP. I hope Labour unites now under Starmer and the McSweeney departure is seen in context - you Guys have a job to do so get on with it ! Please !!

Yes Freddy o Yes Freddy but don't be such a miserable bigger. It might not matter to you Lofty but those on holiday would probably like a drink on a Saturday night. I was reflecting on the alcohol free day last Saturday - It seems to me the only purpose of that was to give us practice in NOT drinking for this Saturday !

Purdey - re. Ryan Routh. I couldn't get into the link but have just checked a summary - this was a viable assassination attempt and Routh was suitably armed with a weapon and intent. IMO the 'right to bear arms' has no relevance here. More generally, there is a 'right' to bear arms of course, but it is surely less than wise to take a weapon to a protest, where doing so could easily be misinterpreted. But this cannot be a criticism of the late Alex Pritti, who had a weapon as he had a right to. There's NO evidence that Pritti attempted to deploy or use it, (even when under deadly attack). But IMO it should be illegal to take a weapon to an organised protest. Good point.

Sorry Riclag but exactly what line of thought you are trying to propound in this thread escapes me ! Ryan Routh is obviously no more than one disturbed and unstable character and his allegiances and bumper stickers prove precisely nothing about nothing. Surely there's some other more substantive stuff to discuss.

Trump is the most unbelievable and disgusting criminal sleazebag. Polls show the USA thoroughly regrets it's choice even though some blinkered 'meatheads' still stand with him. The USA needs to rid itself of this, sorry filth. This YouTube below with insights into FBI files, is just awful. The USA will continue to lose respect around the whole World while Trump is there. It's sad - the World needs a functioning and noble America !

Spot on Scottie ! Even if Pretti WAS 100% an active agitator and using violence to property, there is NO excuse and can never be, for this unnecessary and violent execution. Policing forces should be trained NOT and NEVER to act in anger - that's surely a prerequisite . . . . . 10 shots was it ? So blabbing MAGA nuts can't excuse at all what happened, however hard they try.

However, in this election run up, I have noticed far fewer of those infernal speaker trucks that make life a misery. Generally the spending controls read as a muddle - but it will all be over soon - hopefully.