John Drake

Yet another day with AQI 160+ across western Bangkok. Third day in a row. Do Western embassies warn potential tourists from their countries of the hazardous air quality in Thailand and SE Asia?

And don't forget that Thailand holds joint air exercises with China called Falcon Strike. Unlike Cobra Gold, where the Chinese have a presence, the US and other Western nations are locked out of Falcon Strike. The US, Australia, Korea, Japan, Singapore, and Indonesia hold separate air exercises. But Thailand opted to go with the Chinese. The US would be nuts to sell Thailand anything more advanced than a fax machine. But, as I say, they're probably gullible enough to do so. https://thediplomat.com/2022/08/thailand-china-and-the-revival-of-falcon-strike/

The gullibility of the American Foreign Service and military cannot be underestimated. They've allowed Thai officials to spit in their face and give them the cold shoulder while cozying up to China for a decade now. With no repercussions for Thailand. US ambassadors and embassy officials continue to lope around Thailand with their tongues hanging out, begging for every scrap of Thai approval they can get. The US-Thai "alliance" should have been scrapped years ago. And US tech investments should be steered away to places like the Philippines. But I would imagine the US would go through with aircraft sales, even with Chinese co-pilots standing on the tarmac next to the Thai pilots.

"Peace" means supporting the Myanmar generals who are on the verge of losing. Peace here means supporting the Chinese who are behind the generals.

Wouldn't it be cheaper and easier to just exhibit that bear that bit off somebody's arm a few days ago?

Great idea! Plenty of room for all the extended family when they move in.

And her word is good as gold.

They're not going to fix anything. This morning was particularly bad in western Bangkok. AQIs in the 170s. But at least it just finished raining for an hour or so. Maybe that will scrub the air a bit.

Crime

A couple of years ago, when I was getting my yearly retirement extension, the immigration officer simultaneously updated my 90 day. This was during covid days. She asked if I had my current 90 day receipt and made the update. Don't know why they did it, but they printed out a new one and gave it over. It was at their urging. I didn't request it.

I'm not involved or knowledgeable about all the currency wiggle waggle. All I know is that a little over a year or so ago Prawit complained about the baht being too weak and asserted it needed to exchange at around 35. The baht promptly went lower. Now, what seems to be yet more complaining about a strong dollar and presto! the dollar sinks like a rusty tub the past couple of days. I'll not call it a conspiracy. But I do think it's a really strange coincidence, coming as it does when a lot of American Social Security transfers are scheduled in the next couple of days.

AQI 160+ and 170+ all across Bangkok and the suburbs this morning. SOS. Same ole <deleted>.

This is the main point. That, and the trauma some poor person innocently walking in the area might incur on seeing him turn himself into a gob of goo. Probably there was some psychological impact to innocents. People who do these sorts of things deserve to be locked up and fined severely.

They did last year.

Thanks for the insight.

Last time I was in a hospital was four years ago. Kidney stones. I was admitted free and clear but had to pay for the procedure itself beforehand. Same private hospital I've used before. If it's a night's stay or so, I always pay on exiting (with a couple of orderlies standing beside the wheelchair they put me in). But for anything major, it's money upfront. I've always contended that the idea of Western retirees skipping out on their medical bills was farcical. If anybody is sticking Thais with medical bills, it's the younger tourists who ride around smashing into things or falling off balconies.

What's a Buffalo Bear? I thought it was Sun Bears in Thailand.

Make my own pizza dough. It's easy. All purpose flour, water, and baking powder. That's all you need. I use four scoops of all purpose flour, a tablespoon of baking powder, and mix in luke warm water until the right consistency. One time I forgot to add the baking powder and discovered that's how you make a thin crust pizza.

Use boneless skinless chicken breasts. Or better yet just tenders. For the mix, I change it up a lot, but tend to use paprika, cumin, chili powder, maybe some garlic and mix in some vegetable oil. Store in fridge overnight. The link KhunLA gives above looks good too.

You can use a variety of packaged mixes, if you like. There's burrito mix (or even the taco seasoning, if you're desperate). But yes I make my own personalized seasoning mix and marinade the chicken overnight. Danitas flour tortillas (burrito sized) are available at Foodland and Tops. Find a decent salsa and some sour cream and you're ready to go.

Chicken fajitas. Make it quite often, actually.

Vintage 1980s Bradley Fighting Vehicle takes out latest Russian tank in Ukraine.

Picture looks like he's between a rock and a hard place.

Isn't lithium medication used to treat mania? Might be a bigger market for it than people think.

In other words the exact same as it has been at night for a month and a couple of degrees hotter during the day.