Sir Dude

This is the way it's going in many places due to soaring costs etc... what's called "shrinkflation", and it's an insult when prices slowly creep up and portion size contracts. Got to the point for me where I simple don't got out to eat anymore, cook from scratch at home with the wife... healthier, better quality, control over what goes in, and ultimately cheaper over the month. Still go out for a beer once a week, but beer prices aren't what they were either, as getting pricey in bars for a bottle, or 5, when out on the lash. The thing is, many businesses price themselves out of the market through greed and sentiment/confidence of normal folk isn't high right now... which leads to saving and thrift/deal and bargain hunting. Many people now refuse to buy anything unless it's discounted or a 2 for 1 offer etc. (even bulk-buying at Makro is preferable), with brand loyalty out the window... and add to that most government's now are on a tax grab, hardly suprising we find ourselves in this situation of suppressed economies and stagnation.

Well, can't blame them really, as Hamas has not managed to do anything for any of them other than bring destruction and oppression... should be going more in the West Bank/Palastinian Authority diection.

Well, if you are legal, then fine... if not, then what do you expect? High time the actual law was respected all over the western world on so many matters. Also, judges should not be meddling in politicals as they are unelected.

Well, if you look a little further back in history, then you will see how badly Ukraine has been treated by all, during and since WW2... the Soviets were worse than the Nazis, created famine and death on such a big scale from their indifference and fail policies, that who would blame the eastern Europeans on this one. Most people commenting on these topics have zero clue what actually happened back in history, not just to Ukraine, but also Poland and a few others too... hence their rush to rearm because the hated Russians are coming. Those appeasing the Russians have never had them occupying their country or experience their awful and sadistic oppression.

Okay, here's the reality of Thai education in a nutshell... elementary and secondary education is a joke. In these early formative years they learn sweet FA, other than the brainwashing nonsense the culture wants to condition them with to turn them into compliant automatons... and that makes them completely unprepared for university and "higher education". Only the rich have a chance to escape the cycle. High school in Thailand is a massive brainwashing machine that enables zero learning... only the 5% prosper. Once they get to university, it's too late as they are already lost and the univerities can't fix it... hence the mediocrity of those that graduate and the movitationless (if there is such a word) nature of most of the students. It's completely by design to keep a clueless working class of low and middle levels to supply the national grinder for the needs of the elite. No point any of these Thais complaining about it, as they know the truth... just can't say it.

Can we apply that to the UK? Or is only a one-way street for westerners in Asia? Many times I think that if anyone is unhappy with the UK, and it's laws and culture, they should just use the nearest airport and leave as they know where they are... or do you think there is some special reason why it shouldn't apply to everywhere? What's you stance, please?

Well, who cares what the deluded trans moron thinks... certainly not Musk or anyone else. These types that make such grandiose announcements have hardly established themselves as a bastion of virtue or a repository of knowledge, or even acheived anything at all by themsleves (just nepo BS)... doesn't cut it and all a load of nonsense.

Use your imagination... you (and others) can still do that, I guess, but it depends what you are after and what floats your boat, which only you can answer. Not for me to apply cannon law on this one... your call if you are wondering about it, and if you aren't, then my post is nonsense. Up to you.

Well, if you are in the tourist hotspots, then I can imagine it has changed a lot with the influx of Russians, Arabs, Ukrainians, Chinese etc. for all sorts of reasons, from draft dodging the Ukraine war to the Chinese trying to flee with their money from the CCP. I can also imagine many old hands returning to the holiday hotspots thinking that they are no longer how they remember, and are disappointed. You can still have fun, but it clearly has lost some shine and is not was it was back in the glory days.... change is inevitable, I guess. You have to make a choice... accept the new reality and FUBAR stuff going on now in such places... or migrate to more sensible places in Thailand that still offer the real experience. There are pros and cons in all things, but the caveats in tourist places are getting more numerous... your call.

Orwell was right with his famous 1984 book, just 40-45 years too early in the UK's case.

Russia's economy is now dependent on perpetual war... otherwise it will collapse miserably. The Kremlin knows that it can't afford to win the war or lose it, as the economic implications are too negative regardless of what happens... both end games are a problem.

UK is a Christian country... no-one cancels Ramadan or Diwali in case it offends. This is all a concerted effort on the behalf of the amorphous blob entity that wants everything erased that is culturally western, but hasn't the sand to do the same for the minorities. Calling BS on this one... idiots, should be fired for needlessly creating division and polarization in society. More far-left social engineering and brainwashing for the morons to lap up.

History is littered with so many failed attempts at socialism, and that's because it simply doesn't work once you try to scale it up. The seduction of the idea is that at the very small/micro level, like family and friends, it works... but then some "revolutionary" student union idealistic types try to scale it up to the national or whatever level and it fails miserably, basically due to human nature and greed, with an unwillingness to be truly equal with all when it comes down to it, as judgement is cast on others for their opinions or shortcomings/disabilities/whatever. This is famously deplicted in George Orwell's novel Aminal Farm, and imortalized in the sentence "All pigs are equal, but some are more equal than others...". After the implosion of the experiement with socialism, everyone cries and wonders why it failed... duhhhh! The other problem with the far left and proper socialism is that each foolish generation gets into their early twenties, hasn't studied history properly, and thinks "Those who tried in the past were stupid, we can get it right this time", and then fail miserably causing no end of damage along the way. Obviously, the Bolshevics are the post-boy organization for showcasing this failure all the way up the the implosion of the USSR after all the death, killing, torture and suffering it brought about... but there are plenty of other examples too (Cuba/Venezuela/Commie China etc.) People like to label anyone to the right of Stalin as "far right" these days... but most don't realize that there is something alive and well called "far-left fascism" which is equally oppressive and is slowly creeping into western societies whilst hiding in plain sight with all the language, expression, social media, and thought policing in the education sector and businesses. Get out whilst you still can, I say. That's not to say that capitalism is perfect, but it works a lot better, and it's like what Churchill said... “The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings. The inherent virtue of Socialism is the equal sharing of miseries.” —House of Commons, 22 October 1945.

They are like illegal immigrants... if you want to stop them coming, then take away the pull factors.

Forget the fashionable crying nonsense you see now everywhere, pathetic... want to do that weak rubbish, then do it in private. Learn how to be stoic instead... much cooler and manly.

This woman is a great example of box-tick appointment nonsense, upward failure, and promoted far beyond her abilities... a complete affront to meritocracy.

Cherry picking one sentence from my post completely out of context... nice trolling, give you that. The wise guys on here never cease to amaze.

What irks me about these grandiose ideas is that they are always tailored to help the irresponsible morons who fail and create problems. What about the majority of diligent people who responsibly pay the sky-high interest rates on bank loans at the high street banks (8-9%), and have even submitted land as a guarantee... where's the recognition/benefit for them? Just leaves a bad taste in the mouth of those who honour their committments whilst the idiots get more consideration... calling BS on this.

Should have just posted a picture of it and said "Ridiculous criminal freak wanted".

The country is not run by polls and such bleeting-like entitlement... politicians and diplomats do. Fine if you want to protest, but mob rule is a no-no, I'm afraid. There are many times in politics that leaders have to take a deep breath and do what is pragmatic and good for their own country/interests after properly analysing situations... it's called "realpolitik". Just because a couple 100k crusty or "damp as a wet paper bag" lefties demand something like an entitled child, doesn't mean it has to happen... most others either don't care or disagree. The US under Trump is simply going to have to be delicately and pragmatically handled by all of Europe for the next 4 years, as there are still many benefits to having the US on board with stuff... one caveat though, we need seasoned and experienced diplomats plus politicians to do that, which I'm sorry to say, we are short of.

There is no such thing as "British English", it's just English... it's the Americans that changed it all with that bounder Webster, so there is such a thing as "American English".

As long as Starmer and his cabinet cling on to student union lefty fantasy politics/policies, then it will get worse... they are simply not business friendly. You don't "fix" the economy buy hiking taxes on everyone and businesses, then giving inflation-busting pay rises to the public sector without linking it to performance... you are just driving away the wealthy who pay most of the tax revenue for the Treasury anyhow, and businesses will just up and leave taking their jobs with them. It's basic business 101, lower the taxes, cut the waste, attract the wealthy and businesses who bring the jobs with them plus the innovation too... you get more money coming in with less taxes because the slice of the pie is bigger and confidence/sentiment is higher, so people and businesses spend, and you are also a good environment for SMEs that make up so much of any economy. In a nutshell, Labour need to understand the word "realpolitik"... and fast.

Listening to this song might give some persective to many Thai gamblers...

Only thing to do is to do debt cancellation and the government absords it... but ban those that use the service from borrowing again. Give them a clear slate, but don't let them do the same BS again.

Lol... there are so many far-left lies that are perpetuated, but one of the worst is "Diversity is our strength".... what a of load steaming, freshly laid, stinky load of BS.