John Drake

Many others won't be in the clear. And there are always reasons that may come up that require you to change your bank and thus bank account. If that happens, you're out of luck. And Elon could not care less.

Mission accomplished.

Except that's not what is happening. Read the Grok message I included above. Even if you have ID.me or Login.gov, once you sign into MySocialSecurity, it directs you to a 1-800 number. And the 1-800 number will not work after 29 March. That means after that date you will need to make an appointment with your nearest SSA office to appear in person. If you're in Thailand, that means going to Manila.

And if you lose access to them??? I know ID.me's 2fa is sending a code to your phone. What if you lose the phone? Or the phone number? Login.gov, which I also have, uses google authenticator, which is also on your phone. It does give 10 backup codes, but those can go away with a hard drive failure, unless you're backing them up over several devices. And while you're doing this, imagine some person with no internet savvy or experience at all being put through this because Elon thought it was a good idea.

Until you lose access to your 2FA

six mental disorders.

20 pages for this one. minimum.

FWIW I asked Grok about this problem. Here is the reply: That’s frustrating—and it exposes the exact snag you’re facing. You’ve got an ID.me account and can log into my Social Security, which should theoretically make this smooth, but the system’s still kicking you back to the Manila phone line for direct deposit changes. As of right now, March 13, 2025, that’s how it’s set up: the SSA’s online portal isn’t fully equipped to handle direct deposit updates independently for everyone, especially overseas users like you. It’s redirecting you to call the Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) in Manila (+63-2-5301-6200), which, come March 29, 2025, won’t be an option for this anymore once Musk’s DOGE-driven phone cut kicks in. This is a classic gap—SSA’s pushing “online only” in theory, but their own site isn’t fully there yet, and they’re yanking the phone lifeline before the digital bridge is solid. I double-checked via web searches and X posts today: users abroad are reporting the same loop—log in, click to change direct deposit, get told to call. The SSA’s own site (ssa.gov) confirms direct deposit changes for existing beneficiaries often still require phone or in-person action, despite the my Social Security hype. Posts on X are griping about this too—one user called it “a half-baked pivot” since the online system’s inconsistent across regions. So, post-March 29, your options shrink. Manila’s phone line (Tuesdays/Thursdays, 8:00 AM–11:00 AM) won’t handle this anymore. You could try emailing [email protected] to ask about online alternatives, but don’t hold your breath—they’re swamped, and X chatter suggests responses are slow. In-person in Manila’s still technically on the table (appointment required), but that’s a trek from Thailand. Mailing forms (like the SF-1199A for direct deposit) to the U.S. Embassy in Manila might work—address is 1201 Roxas Boulevard, Ermita, Manila, Philippines 0930—but it’s a gamble with international post, and you’d need to confirm with Manila first. This does smell like Musk’s efficiency drive indirectly kneecapping you—cutting phone access before the online system’s ready for expats. Can you test the portal again closer to the cutoff, see if they patch it? Or is a Manila trip even remotely doable if it comes to that?

Well, I logged in to see just what could go wrong. I used my ID.me account to access My Social Security. Under the link where you go to change your direct deposit information, it tells you to "contact us." Under that link, it tells you to call them using the 1-800 number, which will no longer be available on 29 March or, for those of us living outside the US, to see the embassy services, which for those of us in Thailand, of course, directs us to email or telephone Manila. So will we still be able to telephone Manila or email them after 29 March?

Better have ID.ME https://www.marketwatch.com/story/social-security-administration-weighs-cutting-phone-support-for-claims-deposits-report-c3de31c6?mod=home_lead

Big Tech libertarianism at work. Musk, Sacks, and Thiel have fully appropriated whatever populist shell Trump was inhabiting and turned him into a puppet for their grand anarcho-libertarian experiment. Vacant Trump acolytes just nod and agree.

W likely was brain damaged from his alcoholism.

W still maintains his position as the worst president in US history. He destroyed the country, its economy, and its foreign affairs standing. He and the Clintons turned American manufacturing over to China. He should be on trial before multiple US and international courts of law.

Trump's chaotic governance and his seeming adoption of Big Tech Anarcho-Libertarianism is indeed making people forget just how awful Harris was and would have been as president. I wish both sides had put up saner more effective candidates, such as DeSantis on one side and even Newsom on the other. Maybe Fetterman fits in 2028. By then, of course, as I keep saying, Trump may have screwed things up so much that AOC ends up being president.

Trump was elected, I think, to deport illegals and secure the border, get rid of the DEI and Trans craziness, and take care of inflation. He was not elected to annex Greenland, attack Canada, or rename the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America. But that and Ukraine are where he is spending his time. There is nothing wrong with specifically applied and reasonably targeted tariffs. But maybe look at the people using them against you in China and Southeast Asia before launching a trade war with Mexico and Canada.

Is this the sort of guy you want to put a chip in your brain?

Maybe Trump has a particular idea about what greatness is. Just for fun, I asked Grok if there were similarities between Trump and the Anti-Christ. Here is what Grok said: This is an interesting question that blends theology, interpretation, and personal perspective. To address it, I’ll focus on what the Bible says about the Antichrist and leave the comparison to Donald Trump as a thought exercise for you, since drawing definitive conclusions about real people in this context is speculative and subjective. The concept of the Antichrist appears primarily in the New Testament, notably in the Book of Revelation and the letters of John (1 John 2:18, 2:22, 4:3, and 2 John 1:7). Here’s a breakdown of the biblical depiction: Opposes Christ: The term "Antichrist" suggests someone who stands against or in place of Christ. 1 John 2:22 says, “Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist—denying the Father and the Son.” This implies a figure who rejects or undermines core Christian beliefs. Deceptive Leader: In Revelation 13, a figure often associated with the Antichrist (the "beast") rises to power, deceiving many with signs and wonders, and demanding worship. This figure collaborates with a false prophet and exercises global influence, often through charisma or coercion. Lawlessness: 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 describes the “man of lawlessness” (sometimes linked to the Antichrist) as one who “opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship,” setting himself up as divine. This suggests pride, rebellion, and a rejection of established moral or spiritual order. End-Times Figure: The Antichrist is tied to apocalyptic events, ushering in a period of tribulation before Christ’s return, according to Revelation and Daniel (e.g., Daniel 7:25, where a figure “speaks against the Most High” and oppresses the faithful). Now, applying this to Donald Trump—or any individual—depends on how one interprets his actions, words, and influence. Critics might point to his brash personality, polarizing leadership, or moments of self-aggrandizement (e.g., calling himself the “chosen one” in a 2019 comment about trade with China) as echoing the pride or deception of the Antichrist. Supporters, conversely, might argue he’s a defender of religious values, citing his appeal to evangelical Christians and policies like appointing conservative justices. The Bible doesn’t provide a checklist of physical traits or a specific historical profile, so resemblance hinges on subjective judgment. Historically, figures from Nero to modern leaders have been accused of being the Antichrist based on their actions or the zeitgeist of their era. Trump’s a lightning rod—some see him as a savior, others as a villain—but that duality doesn’t inherently make him a biblical figure. What’s your take? Are there specific traits or events you’re thinking of that spark this comparison for you?

So somehow they bought property? At any rate, yet another example of why you don't make big investments in Thai property. Only rent. I've been on short term rental in the same house for 15 years. If you rent, you don't need to worry about property disputes, noisy neighbors, loose dogs, or nearby construction. You just move.

The Trump Elite visa.

Sure seems like it. Unbelievably, Trump is losing to Canada.

Yes, we have no bananas.

Trump and Musk campaigned on a populist platform. But what we've now got doesn't have a lot of populism left in it. Instead, Musk and the other Tech Barons have instituted the beginnings of a radical anarcho-libertarian makeover. Musk, Sacks, Thiel, and the rest are a new version of robber barons, ditching laws, taxes, and regulations that impede their personal empires, while allowing the country to descend into chaos.

He's folding again.

One set of rules for the colonizers and another for the natives. SOP. Next step will be separate judicial panels and judges for the colonizers.

Perhaps if Trump focused on the central threat to the country, the millions and millions of people let in without the slightest background check, instead of going to war with Canada and Mexico, then deportations might get the resources they need.