newnative

If this is 'advancing' it's at a snail's pace.

My spouse and I do at least 1 load of clothes a day. I would recommend both a clothes washer and a dryer. We've used most all the brands and haven't had a problem with any of them, including Samsung.

Saw the headline and thought, uhh-oh, I need to run off dozens and dozens of new applications for the 'Just Can't Quit Pattaya Fan Club'. Judging from the 5 pages of responses so far, it looks like there are tragically high numbers of those who wish, wish, wish they were here. I shall get those applications out to you toot sweet. Just try to hang on till then; surely there is something for you to do where you washed up. Think, there must be! Is it too soon to sort your socks again?

Or, 80.

I don't think I am required to post everything under the sun that I am thinking. For example, it just popped into my head that Trump's adult diapers are, perhaps, making him look, in Walker88's apt description, even more like a 'blubberbutt'. All that extra diaper padding is also emphasizing his broad, child-bearing hips, in not a flattering way, in my opinion. But, I shall keep those thoughts to myself.

I'm struggling mightily to see your 'many an inflammatory name was given to trump' in Walker88's terrific and well-written post. Where are they? Trump was referred to as a felon several times, which he is. I much admired the use of 'Senor Felonista'--added a fun and interesting way to say felon. Which, again, Trump is--so nothing inflammatory. Perhaps 'blubberbutt'? Trump, as everyone knows, is grossly overweight so really nothing inflammatory there, just truth. Again, just a great way to say to describe him and keep the reader's interest. I'm partial to 'big tub of lard' for Trump. Maybe 'long rapsheet'? Sorry, true, and likely getting longer with all his current indictments. And, also sorry to keep repeating but--nothing inflammatory, folks. Truth. What about 'civilly convicted rapist'? Unfortunately for America, that, too, is indeed true--you only have to ask the judge who handled the case. We have a convicted rapist running for president. Never thought I'd be typing that sentence! Nothing inflammatory. Which brings us to the final questionable label applied to Trump by the poster--'weird'. I suppose one man's weird could be another man's normal but I, and I think many others, find Trump incredibly weird, in many myriad ways, starting with his serial lying, even in instances when he didn't need to lie. Weird. But, what's even weirder is the 'goobers' supporting him. Let's not be goobers!

Buh bye bye

Certainly hope he is banned from driving passengers.

Could endanger? As well it should.

So true. Here's my Dad's example. He retired in 1972 and started to expand his, at the time, fairly modest stock portfolio. His goal, as he told us 6 kids, was to leave each of us $100,000 when he and my Mom passed on. The stocks were mostly household names and blue chips. JNJ, WMT, BAC, AXP, WM, MO, PM, HSY, DEO, GE, PFE, LLY, DIS, BP, LOW, BA, PG, XOM, etc. Not much tech, except MSFT, INTL, IBM, CSCO, and a few others. When Dad died in 2009, his stock portfolio of about 45 stocks was worth $600, 000, so he had reached his goal. Mom was still alive, however, so from 2009 to 2019, we kept his stock portfolio intact and the dividends paid for her nursing care, along with the money from selling their house. Dad had done the buying, we did the 'hold' of 'buy and hold'. In April 2011, the portfolio value had risen to $746,000. Microsoft was selling for about $26 a share then, Lilly for around $36. In December 2019, when my Mom passed away, the portfolio value was worth about 1.8 million dollars. Soon after, covid hit and the portfolio value plummeted. The estate was going through a very lengthy probate, however, which turned out to be a good thing. By the time the portfolio was ready to be distributed to us kids, it had mostly recovered and the six of us each received about $300,000 in stocks. So, doing absolutely nothing but holding, the portfolio went, through market ups and downs, from $600,000 in 2009 to $1.8 million in December 2019. Had the portfolio remained intact, the present value would be $2,266,000, not counting dividends, stock splits, and company spin-offs. By the way, those two stocks from 2011? MSFT today, $408 a share. LLY, $804 a share.

He's 78, out of shape, and overweight. He's just as likely to drop dead any minute as to survive a presidential term. Which means American voters need to take a hard look at that no-experience whackjob he nominated for VP. Is that someone you want as president when Trump departs for the Eighth Circle of Hell?

This seems to be getting out of hand. A bigger police presence is needed and these Kuwaiti troublemakers need to be deported already.

True. My sister-in-law has a problem with that in Bangkok. Spouse and I are in an ok area in Pattaya near Lake Mabprachan.

Cracks me up that there are some who still believe this nonsense. Let me get an application to The Flat Earth Society in the mail to you. No, he lost badly, by over 7 million votes. He lost both the popular vote and the Electoral College. Also lost the popular vote in 2016, by 2.8 million, but was appointed president by the EC, over the wishes of the voters. Note, Trump didn't dispute that election, even though he lost the popular vote. The few cases of election fraud I have seen reported have involved Republicans, not Democrats. Someone voting his dead wife, etc. Of course, the biggest offender is Trump, himself, trying to coerce votes in Georgia, among other offenses.

That's exactly what he did in the first 'debate' with Biden. Note his non-answer to the child care question, and many others. You're so right that there needs to be strong moderators--otherwise the 'debate' is just a farce, another campaign stop for Donald to spew his lies, insults, and other assorted nonsense, no matter what the debate question is. Should he do the same in the debate with Harris, she needs to call him out every single time and be on the offensive from the get-go, rather than defensive. Fight fire with fire and attack what he says first, regardless if it's the debate question. Start her answer with, "I'll answer that question if there's time but first I can't ignore the lie that the worst president in history just told. Here's the truth . . ." .

Not sure what you mean by your comment but the Darkside is booming, with new housing estates all over the place, new restaurants, and a big hospital soon to be finished. Lots of choice with housing in about all price points. Also lots of year-round residents, so not sure 'this time of year' applies. It was interesting that during covid, a number of 7-11s in town temporarily closed but I don't think a single one of them closed on the Darkside, and, in fact, more were opening.

There are plenty of quiet areas in Pattaya. Pattaya has a number of distinct neighborhoods and there are quiet areas in most of them. For example, my spouse and I had a condo right on the beach in Wongamat, which was a quiet area in the part where we were. We also lived in a quiet area of south Jomtien, away from the bars and nightlife. Now, we have a home in a housing project on the Darkside, also in a quiet area well off one of the main roads, which can be noisy with traffic. Although it's quiet, we can easily jump on the Motorway and be at Terminal 21, Index, the hospital, Tesco Lotus, Home Pro, etc. in 15 minutes or so. There are quiet areas, you just need to look a bit.

Seems like a lot of work for such a tiny payoff.

Poorly paid, actually. State job. But, you could retire with a pension once you reached 30 years of service, which I did at age 53. Virginia had a rather innovative pension option at the time, which I used, where you could opt for a larger pension in your first years of retirement, which reduced somewhat once you qualified for Social Security. But, you still got COLAs every year, so the pension was increasing each year. I worked another 5 years part-time at the same job to supplement the pension, while also flipping condos, then moved to Thailand. Took Social Security early, at age 62, which some say not to do, but, in my case, I think it was the best option and absolutely no regrets on that. The library job involved a lot of different duties, none of which was to 'read books all day'. And, thank goodness--even though I like to read, that would soon get boring.

Don't stop there.

Not a mention that I could see as to whether he liked his job or not. That was super important to me when I was working. I really liked my job and my co-workers. If not, I would have looked for something else. With my government job, and likely this person's, the pay was less but the benefits were better--including a good pension plan with COLAs. I have Thai inlaws who work in the private sector. At 60, they are required to retire, with a one-time lump sum payment that has to last them the rest of their lives. I'd rather earn somewhat less but have a guaranteed pension when I retire--I'd hate being tasked to make a one-time payment last me the rest of my life.

It's not racism, it's nationalism. Nationalism can be seen as discrimination by some but it's not racial discrimination, as it does not target a specific race or ethnicity, just non-Thai citizens.

I think anyone moving to Thailand from a 1st world country realizes they are moving to a country that in various ways is not yet at that stage. Nevertheless, Thailand is making progress. More liberal political parties are becoming more popular, especially with the younger citizens--that is likely to just get stronger. Gay marriage is about to be passed. Thailand has a universal health care system. While woefully inadequate, Thailand has made a start on a social security system. Certainly there is much more to do, but that is true for most 2nd and 3rd tier countries, and 1st tier countries, as well, with some things.

I don't agree that Thailand is a right-wing country. As for why there are more expats here of a liberal nature, I believe it is because liberals are just more open to new things, new ideas, new ways of doing things, new ways of thinking. Gay marriage? Yes. Trans rights? Yes. Social programs and safety nets? Yes. Environmental protection? Yes. Health care for everyone and not just those who can afford it? Yes. Liberals are just more open to change. Period. And, what could be a bigger change than picking up stakes and moving to a different country on the other side of the world?

Texas averages at least 1,300 murders a year. In 2020 there were over 1,900. So, from your 2011 to 2023, at least 15,000 murders. According to you, 1,000 were done by illegal aliens. That leaves 14,000 murders by upstanding US citizens. Great work, Americans.