Lacessit

Car buyers are buying Chinese cars because they are cheap. Probably hoping their purchase of a new vehicle does not bite them later on. China does not have any reputation for high quality cars, because the industry is too new to establish those credentials. Permit me to doubt you can point me to any Chinese vehicle that has the technological development of a Hyundai I30N or a Kia Stinger, the Chinese are making cars for the mass market.

The South Koreans have overtaken the Japanese in terms of technical excellence and build quality. Some are better than the German brands, and considerably less expensive. They are not seen much in Thailand, as they are not manufactured here and attract the usual 100% (or more) customs duty. The Hyundai Kona N SUV is a seriously good vehicle. AWD, 1.6 L turbocharged engine, 8 speed double clutch gearbox. It operates in Eco, Normal, Sport and N mode. In Sport mode, its handling and acceleration are phenomenal. N mode is really only for use on a racetrack. All done with onboard computers which automatically adjust ride, handling, engine, clutch and steering characteristics I would agree Chinese vehicles are unproven as yet. In Australia, I understand getting spare parts for them is a nightmare. The LDV brand has quite quickly established the capacity to rust beyond an owner's expectations, according to a YouTube video.

My guess would be residual ores of copper may be giving the water a green color, given it is an old mining site. It would be interesting to know what pH the water is. It could also be algae. Either way, swimming not recommended.

Hideous back tattoo on the woman in the photo, what was she thinking? Russians here have more sense than to be in Ukraine, IMO that counts in their favor.

My GF cuts my hair, among other services she renders.

Seems to be quite a lot of them in Australia, although I understand they have to meet Australian Medical Association requirements before they can practice.

IMO Hockey and Abbott killed the car industry in Australia. With our population, there was room for one carmaker. It was sacrificed on the altar of the global economy. Sticking with large fuel-guzzling models did not help either. That altar was trashed during COVID, when nations suddenly realized supply chains from other nations were unreliable, and their national interests are better served by going back to self-sufficiency. The operation was successful, a pity the patient died.

Even Professor Sonnenfeld misses one point. Russia must keep producing oil, even at the loss he claims, because many of the wells are in the permafrost region. Oil does not come out of the ground as pure oil, there is a lot of water too. Shutting the well down means the water freezes, which effectively wrecks the well indefinitely. Wetern technical help may solve that problem, Russia won't be getting it.

The US has already made it quite clear to Putin if he uses tactical nukes in Ukraine, there will be grave consequences. Tactical nukes in Ukraine would achieve nothing on the battlefield. Their only use is as a terror weapon. History demonstrates the tactic is almost always unsuccessful. A non-nuclear response could include taking out the Black Sea Fleet with stealth fighters, or letting the Ukrainians respond in kind to Russian missiles. So far, it has only been acts of sabotage inside Russia. It's only the older Russians that support Putin, the younger ones are voting with their feet. Russia has lost already, it is a pariah state that has to beg for war supplies from the Iranians and North Koreans. I can remember when Russia was buying whole spectrometers from the USA via intermediaries during the Cold War to strip them of their diffraction gratings, which were used in missile guidance systems. Current sanctions have put Russia even further behind in technology. I'm predicting Russia will either become a failed state, or a vassal of China. As John McCain once famously said, it's a gas station, not a country.

Have you had your appendix removed? If not, you may have a grumbling appendix. Usually RHS of lower abdomen. It's a long shot, doctors should be able to diagnose it. The tramadol is not working any more as you are habituated. The other possibility is giardia or cryptosporidia infection. I suggest PM Sheryl for advice on where to go, it sounds like the doctors in your area are not competent.

IIRC it was Samuel Johnson who said patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.

1/ Give up alcohol. It's a Class 1 carcinogen anyway. 2/ Learn Thai. Good mental exercise, and plenty of free instruction. 3/ Take a songthaew instead of a taxi. 4/ Learn to cook for yourself. 5/ Take the free shuttle bus between Suvarnabhumi and Don Muang. 6/ In a new town, give yourself time to look around for accommodation in the 500 - 700 baht/night range. See any room first before committing. 7/ Buy secondhand clothing. 8/ Buy secondhand cars and scooters 9/ Shop in the local markets for fruit and vegetables in season. 10/ Exercise to stay healthy, cheaper than hospitals. Don't buy gym memberships, everything required is on YouTube. 11/ Only apply for a re-entry permit when you know you will need it. 12/ Do your visa extensions yourself. Agents charge about 3000 baht/hour for their services, better in your pocket than theirs. 13/ If you must have a GF or wife, find one who is also a Cheap Charlie. 14/ Never ever tell anyone else how much money you have. 15/ If you pay more than 200 baht for a 1 hour massage, you are paying too much. 16/ Be law-abiding and non-confrontational. Disputes here can be costly. 17/ Do not buy property in Thailand. Rent what is affordable.

Small cost, no problem. Good suppliers get my repeat business. I read the customer reviews, although some may be fake. I only buy if the supplier is listed as a Thailand address. Too risky to be buying big ticket items on the internet. I prefer a bricks and mortar operation, so I can go back there if a problem arises.

I fear you are correct. Most of the more colorful posters have departed, some from their own volition. Others have to tread a very fine line when informing another poster they are as dumb as a can of soup. While others may try to fill the void Ubon Joe has left, I doubt anyone can. If Crossy and Sheryl were no longer on this forum, ASEAN would have very little of use to me. I would then be like a cat, scratching the wooden furniture of the heads of some posters. Mild mental exercise.

Mrs Doasyouwouldbedoneby & Mrs Bedonebyasyoudid. Charles Kingsley was a damn good writer.

Have you read John Gray's " Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus"? My GF has a stable wave, and gives me space for my man cave if needed. As for the rest, I like women. Always have.

You would not believe what my GF is willing and happy to do for me.

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Rent of the premises is usually the business killer. In Thailand, if the landlord sees a business is looking successful, they jack up the rent. The business shuts up shop soon after when the operators realize they are merely working for the landlord.

Hals und Beinbruch.

There is one exercise a physiotherapist taught me, after I had a bout of bronchitis many years ago. Get on all fours, then incline the torso so the head is lower than the hips, with the back arched downwards. Then start coughing. It may not work for everyone, it was successful for me.

You'll have to excuse me, I am a fairly literal-minded person. I was wondering how a person could successfully drink from your design when both glasses are filled. Are you Irish, perchance?

If you have not read Roger Zelazny's novelette " For a breath I tarry", I suggest you do. It's about a machine intelligence attempting to understand human nature. Some sci-fi ages very well, like good wine.

He's probably like an 8 yo in a lolly shop. The darker Thai ladies could find his white skin very attractive. I just hope he has the sense to put a glove on his tallywhacker.