John Drake

Where are you going to start? And how much are people willing to pay for increased safety? Many of the people who voice fear over safety concerns would be the first ones to complain about the increased costs of making Thailand safer. To achieve basic safety, you'll need to do a lot more retroactively than raise signs. You'll also need to: * increase the height of balustrades * maintain crosswalks and police them * enforce laws against scooters riding against the direction of traffic * maintain safety standards and inspections (remember the people killed in hotels a few years ago by bug bombs?) Oh, why go on? The list is a mile long. But the point is, if you want all this stuff, you're going to need to pay for it. Who is the first to sign up for their taxes and fees to be increased?

Many, many freelancers out there. Too much competition. It's a race to the bottom in salaries and fees.

I doubt that's true today. Or at least not so "widely spread." Reason? Most people who eat piles of food like that can no longer afford what it costs to eat out. I do wonder when things changed in the US. Back in the 80s obesity was not so much a problem. I'm betting a lot of this can be blamed on millennials. Read a story a few years back where as a demographic group they had stopped eating cereal for breakfast because they didn't want to clean the cereal bowl afterwards. Those aren't the sort of people to cook for themselves.

Makes me long for chicken fried steak.

Walk slower. Scan farther down stream.

That's pretty much the standard response I've received in Thailand. My wife always says, "Your fault. Watch where you're going."

He'll come out dancing like Gene Kelly.

That's a good link. And he's right about the Ro-tel. And, yes, you can store velveeta at room temperature for ages. Here's the Ro-tel page: https://www.ro-tel.com/products

Get the wine at 7 Eleven.

You think we're barbarians?

Chili con queso is divinity. You can make it easily enough by melting down some velveeta mixed with a good salsa. Good salsa is also hard to find in Thailand. Primo salsa would be Pace Picante Sauce (hot). I've seen Old El Paso in Tops. At least it's "medium." Most other salsas are mild for some reason. Why mild salsa in Thailand of all places?

Hey, it keeps your fingers from getting messy.

Makes life worth living.

Cheez Whiz is convenient. And you can't make chili con queso without Velveeta.

Anybody seen Cheez Whiz in Thailand? I mean the kind in the can you can spray on top of a glass of wine. Oh, and Velveeta, too?

I still wear a mask when getting a taxi or going into Bangkok Bank and stores and small shops. It seems to help put the Thais at ease, and the bank requires it.

I agree. At least having a plane ticket, a passport, and their own luggage, Thai travelers would demonstrate more self sufficiency than the vast numbers coming illegally and be given free stay and support. Much more likely to see these Thais on a visa free entry go back home than the mobs crossing illegally.

The US ought to go ahead and do it. It's not like they're trying to keep out anybody anyway. At least if the Thais come in, they'll be doing so on their passport and US authorities will know who they. Unlike the millions pouring across the southern border who are unidentified and given money, housing, and travel to their destination of choice.

This entire topic is filled with insults against one poster, Thaibeachlover. I'm not sure how these posters avoid being in violation of the AN's rules and standards. This isn't some bash easy topic in General or Community Lounge fora. It's in a World News forum, and its been turned into an assault on one member.

It only costs a few thousand baht tops to enter most film festivals. And only if your film is selected for a showing do you need any extra money to attend. This has "junket scam" written in pulsating blue and pink neon signs all over it.

Looks puffy and fat.

Anyone following International Living's endorsement of Ecuador a few months ago would now find themselves in the middle of what appears to be incipient chaos and anarchy. Things can change quickly, when the undercurrents of unrest are papered over by cost of living tables, seaside views, exotic jungles, and trips to spectacular mountains.

But . . . but . . . Parker Posey.

Safety? Just followed a link to the Phuket subforum. The entire first page looks like Gunfight at the OK Corral.

Forget Prawit. I want Prayuth back. The good ole days of no income tax and stable requirements for visa extensions.