suzannegoh

22 hours ago, Yellowtail said:

Except that if the popular was what mattered, campaigning would be much different, and popular vote margin would be wider. 

Most likely that's true.  Trump didn't really bother campaigning in California,  That alone might have cost a couple million popular votes.

4 hours ago, jippytum said:

By aeroplane is recommended

Statistically that is the safest way.

On 7/27/2024 at 9:25 PM, Jingthing said:

Harris has the joyful energy and communication skills to both communicate a positive Fresh freedom vision of democratic leadership and painting the dark dystopia truth of a second term for the felonious dotard.

 

 

Unfortunately that joyful energy only excited people who would never vote for a Republican anyway.

sfdgsdfg

On 11/22/2024 at 10:03 AM, KannikaP said:

What is this PRON you mention. I'd like to try it! 555

I use my NORD VPN to be able to watch UK TV channels, and to protect my Banking activity.

The VPN will allow you to make it appear to your bank that your are not abroad and it will prevent your ISP from knowing what you are doing online but it's superfluous in terms of security against hackers when using financial websites.  By now every bank is using SSL encryption so even without a VPN nobody short of the NSA is going to be able to do intercept your communications with the bank.  For that matter, GMail, Facebook,and even Aeannow are SSL encrypted too.  The most common ways that people get "hacked" is by  someone looking over their shoulder while they are working in public or by clicking on things that they shouldn't have clicked on, and a VPN isn't going to fix that.

On 11/21/2024 at 1:25 PM, Captain Disorderly said:

Ive been using PIA ( Private Internet Access ) for a few years now and not had any problems . Its nearly time to renew my PIA yearly 12 month package and Ive just seen this ..

 

We would like to inform you that as of Oct 15, 2024, the price of our yearly plan will increase to USD $49.99. This was not an easy decision. We have always tried to keep our prices as low as possible for customers whilst operating a globally leading VPN service. However, in order to continue to provide the most reliable and competitive service possible, we must now increase our prices.

 

In the past the same yearly 12 month package cost was ..... USD $29.00 . 

 

I know that if I subscribe to a different plan with PIA  ( 2 years or 5 Years ) I could possibly get the cost down , but I would rather just keep a yearly plan .

 

I use a VPN mainly for torrenting and privacy .

 

I was hoping to locate another VPN provider for a better yearly package cost .

 

Any recommendation , suggestion or advice please. 

 

 

 

 

On PIA's website it shows the price as being $39.95 for one year or $79 for 40 months.   I know you said that you don't want to commit to longer than a year but I think that I'd just fork over the $79  and not worry about it again until 2028.

13 hours ago, Caldera said:

Not sure what the purpose of this topic is. You need to stop blaming Trump and start blaming his voters for what's about to happen, it's not like he's made any effort to conceal his plans - and they voted him in again anyway.

 

Democracy is failing not because of the bad things that Trump will do, but because enough people voted for him anyway, for a variety of reasons (not least the painful process of swapping out Joe Biden last-minute).

Indeed.  Democracy is a threat to democracy.

On 11/23/2024 at 1:23 AM, swissie said:

Trump and his followers.

Mostly, US presidents originated from elite universities and/or from financial/political elitarian circles so far. = Known as the "Finpol-Elite".Now, "the masses" had the chance to vote for a guy that TALKES LIKE THEM, BEHAVES LIKE THEM, THINKS LIKE THEM.  Mirroring the "heartland" of America.

Finally, for the first time in their living memory. No wonder, that the "neglected-masses" are convinced that their "messiah" has finally arrived.

 

Talks like them maybe but Trump went to Wharton.

5 hours ago, Upnotover said:

I think you don't really know how Pattaya baht buses operate.

Perhaps not, but he pretty accurately described how Tuk  Tuks operate

19 hours ago, Old Curmudgeon said:

 

Thanks, @JimTripper, for those comments about digital nomads.

I've observed similar, but can't quite explain that "odd manner".

 

Would make a most interesting discussion topic here, if you (or anyone else) cares to start a thread.

Perhaps a title something like:

   "Digital Nomads vs. Long-stay Expats".

 

 

This is largely a generational thing.  Older people have always complained about younger generations.

On 10/30/2024 at 10:30 AM, BritManToo said:

Well overpriced IMHO.

You must be on a very tight budget.

11 hours ago, Old Curmudgeon said:

 

+1 to @suzannegoh

 

Based on recommendation here from @FolkGuitar, I ordered for delivery from Gekko Garden.

Bah!

Not worth eating.

No more Gekko Garden for me.

 

This thread asks for suggestions of independent restaurants in CM that offer home-style farang food, not detailed restaurant reviews.

So I won't post details.

Another one that might qualify as home style (though not a hole in the wall) is Food4Thought.  They have two branches now with identical menus and the same quality.  However I'd recommended eating at one of those branches, at least the first time, rather than judging on the basis of a Grab Food delivery.

Part of the reason for the strange answers is that it's an unnatural setting, it's an ideologue with a TV crew accosting random people on the street and putting them on the spot.  Do the same in anywhere in Europe and you'll get strange answers too.

On 10/25/2024 at 7:46 PM, Old Curmudgeon said:

 

"Home-Style" farang food ... here's more, especially for my fellow Americans.

 

In my opening post, I emphasized "hole-in-the-wall" garden-style restaurants.

Well, the food is more important than the surroundings, right?

 

I think so, too, so I'm going to add another restaurant to this topic.

Not hole-in-the-wall.

Not garden-style either.

But excellent, home-style, farang food, mostly American, including Tex-Mex, but also a full-English, complete with a bottle of HP brown sauce.

 

Newly opened, just 3 months ago.

And apparently independent, owner-operated ... NOT a chain.  NOT in a mall.

 

Route 66 is an American diner-style restaurant.

On the outside, a non-descript building on the edge of the highway behind Payap University.

On the inside it looks like a real diner from 60-70 years ago in the USA.

(I'm thinking of Mel's Diner in San Francisco and countless others scattered along the highways of the USA in those days.)

 

But who cares about the decor?

I certainly don't.

Let's get to the food!

 

And that will take some explaining ...

 

When Thai cooks try to replicate Western food, they usually get the appearance right, but, they almost never get the taste or the texture right.

If pastries, too sweet or not sweet enough.

If meat, over cooked, or not cooked enough.

If bread, too soft and squishy.

etc., etc.

Would be a similar result if I tried to make som-dtum.

 

But Route 66 gets the tastes exactly right.

And I mean, exactly.

That tells me there's an American with lots of restaurant experience in the kitchen.

He gets it right.

 

Plus, whenever I walk into any restaurant for the first time,

I'm looking for indicators of quality and careful management.

Is it clean? ✓

Are things generally neat and in order? ✓

Is the place free from any bad smells? ✓

 

And there's another way I look for indicators of quality: the brands of products.

At Route 66, ketchup was Heinz. (NOT Rosa).

Butter packets were Anchor. (Not Imperial or Allowie).

My tea bag was Twinings (English). (Not some anonymous food service label).

 

So we're off to a good start at this new restaurant.

 

I'll let you dig through the menu yourself.

I ordered American-style breakfast: pancakes, link sausage, eggs.

Generous servings and arrived at the table hot.

 

Well, whether they know it yet or not, our venerable favourite, The Duke's, is in for some serious competition.

Except for location -- Route 66 is far out on the Eastern edge of town.

But plenty of parking right in front.

And motorcycles welcome.

 

In the opening post, I mentioned a Thanksgiving dinner at the old Garden Cafe near Thapae Gate.

What do you know:

On the table at Route 66 was an advertising card for their Thanksgiving dinner!

And a Christmas dinner, too.

 

I'll put a map and several photos below.

(Seems there's another branch in Pattaya, but I don't know anything about that.)

 

I have no connection with this restaurant in any way, other than as a satisfied customer.

 

(Photos below stolen from Google maps.  Not my photos.)

.

Agree that Route 66 is Excellent.  Currently the best option inCM for farang “comfort food".

On 9/20/2024 at 4:37 PM, brewsterbudgen said:

If service is included, you don't need to leave a tip.  If service is bad, refuse to pay the charge and see how you get on!

 

VAT is just part of life!

The Service Charge doesn't necessarily go to the staff.

I spend a lot more than I expected but it doesn't matter.  Even in the worst case it's still half the price of Singapore.

On 11/11/2023 at 11:38 AM, Misty said:

 

Viewers please note:  AMCHAM Thailand has an excellent tax committee.  Years ago this guy gave a couple of presentations for AMCHAM.  Not only is he no longer an AMCHAM member, but he is also not asked to speak there.

Why is he no longed asked to speak there?

FWIW, this thread from last December is about the same thing as in that video.

On 8/27/2023 at 1:12 PM, BangkokHank said:

I just watched this video about the medicinal benefits of hemp oil for such things as skin cancer (which I have). 

 

https://www.bitchute.com/video/6FnkaUmeDl2j/

 

Does anybody here have any experience with the use of hemp oil? Is hemp oil the same as hemp seed oil? Or does hemp oil come from a different part of the plant? And most importantly, where can I buy hemp oil in Bangkok? Thanks.

That video is about Rick Simpson Oil, a high THC (about 80% THC) cannabis oil.  It might be available in Thailand but it is illegal despite Thailand's marijuana legalization.  Theoretically you could make it yourself using legally purchased weed but the process of brewing in your kitchen is rather dangerous.

5 hours ago, Bangkok Barry said:

Me me me. Does having chicken pox, which I did as a kid, mean I'm unlikely to get shingles though?

No.

Suanprung Hospital will prescribe that or something in the same family drugs at a cheap price.

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