Lacessit

Ukraine surrendered its nuclear weapons in return for the guaranteed security of its borders. Which Putin reneged on, of course. Perhaps you would have preferred a prepared Ukraine using nukes to defend itself? Be careful what you wish for.

I have top level private health insurance in Australia. I am not insurable in Thailand due to pre-existing conditions. In Australia, there is a network of professionals sharing information. Any GP or specialist can access my complete medical history during a consultation. AFAIK there is no such system in Thailand.

Eastern Ukraine is some of the best agricultural land on the planet. Effectively, you are in favor of genocide of the Ukrainians. Stalin started it, Putin wants to finish the job. Perhaps you are simply too ignorant to understand this.

No doubt Biden had a bad debate. When I listened to his SOTU address a few months ago, he was cogent and forceful. There have been several Presidents where the function of running the country has fallen to the advisers, Eisenhower and Reagan were not fully functional towards the end of their Presidencies. Having said that, I'd agree it would be better for the nation if Biden stepped down. The problem is the Democrats are then between a rock and a hard place, because a newcomer has not been in the national eye. And you can bet Trump will do his usual dishonest personal attacks.

It's not. IME most doctors here throw a bucketful of pills at the patients. I have only met one doctor in Thailand who has bothered to inquire about my previous medical history. I also wonder about the cost of anaesthesia, as it seems to be very high here compared to Australia.

The statistics say an infected person wearing a mask is 70% less likely to transmit a respiratory infection. An uninfected person is 30% less likely to become infected if wearing a mask. Most unvaccinated people survived COVID. However, the statistics say an unvaccinated person is 6-7 times more likely to require admission to an ICU, and also 50% more likely to develop long COVID. Trump holding rallies, and refusing to wear a mask because it spoiled his makeup, is as irresponsible as it gets. But as he said recently, I don't care about you, I just want your vote. I am posting facts. If you don't like them, I have others.

It's got to the stage where the Trump faithful will accept anything he says as gospel truth, even when it is a blatant lie. He mostly gets away with it, others don't. Fox had to shell out $760 million to Dominion for supporting one of Trump's lies.

I take it you won't mind my lack of sympathy when you are banged up in a Thai prison, with rice soup for breakfast, lunch and dinner. You don't have to have an accident to be jailed here. Even first time offenders can cop a sentence, depending on circumstances. Statistically improbable, but at least I know I can't be nailed for drink-driving.

I forgot the adjective would-be.

There is a difference between forcefully and ad hominem attacks. Usually, if I post facts in response to said poster, it's deflection, begging the question, or a personal comment.

I don't know. The phone photos work in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai.

I suppose threads would not be complete without one or two comedians.

So have I. The keys to company cars were not given to anyone, before they had passed a defensive driving course. I can't remember any section of that course which approved of drinking and driving.

The one that gets there.

AFAIK it is not mandatory for foreigners to have their passports with them at all times. A paper copy, or photos on a smartphone should be adequate for police checks. I can remember being asked at a checkpoint, my driving licence was sufficient. The rules for banks vary. Bangkok Bank accepts the passport photo on my phone, Kasikorn insists on the physical passport.

The police will tell anyone prepared to listen the three factors in accidents are speed, alcohol and fatigue. Lack of concentration gets classified as fatigue. It is unarguable alcohol impairs reaction times and balance. Just a couple of drinks will do it. Alcohol also removes inhibitions. You say you have been driving 30 years without an accident. Every day you continue drinking and driving makes an accident statistically more probable. As enforcement is weak in Thailand, many people get away with drink driving. However, you may be involved in an accident, even if it is not your fault. If that happens, as a foreigner rest assured you will not be treated with kid gloves.

How does one hate something that does not exist? I do despise people who think the god they believe in has given them the right to dictate to others how they should live.

My son had two friends in their forties, healthy, that died. There were 350,000 COVID deaths under Trump's presidency. That's a higher annual average than under Biden's 3.5 years. Trump's refusal to wear a mask, and endorsement of bleach and unproven medications, certainly did not help. A couple of facts worth noting - the death toll in the red states are higher than the blue states. Also, the death rate is trending up again, as the rallies are increasing in frequency. You are setting a very low bar. According to you, the number of COVID deaths under 50 in the US is only 0.008 %.

ROFL, do you realize what you just said? Sure, I have had my fair share of one-night stands. I've never brandished a Bible afterwards. Trump not only bashes Bibles, he also grifts them. A book he cannot even quote a single phrase of. It's not only Trump's hypocrisy on full display, it is also the self-deception of the Christian right that accepts the dichotomy as somehow normal.

Trump's inaction and maskless rallies during COVID resulted in the needless deaths of hundreds of thousands of Americans. At least Bush and Obama were trying to take out what they regarded as the enemy.

Can you name the felonies Biden has committed, in your BDS world? You may not have been born yesterday, maybe the day before.

Part of my treatment for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia was a drug called Venetoclax. In Australia, the subsidized medication scheme ( PBS ) meant a month's supply cost AUD 7.50. IIRC Sheryl told me the same drug is USD 7000 per month in America, and it was not available in Thailand. That was about 18 months ago, treatment options may have changed in Thailand. I doubt the costs have.

To me, intelligence is intelligence, it doesn't matter if it is AI or HI. The only caveat I would have is AI is not omniscient, it's only as good as the "facts" it is given.

AFAIK the Australian government does not mine and sell coal, private enterprise does after environmental approvals. I don't waste my time doing things that are pointless, except perhaps responding to trolls on ASEAN.

I can't say I have encountered the people the OP is complaining about, except perhaps in passing at Swampy or Don Muang. I guess Chiang Rai is a bridge too far for them.