Lacessit

I am posting facts, if you don't like them I have others. Such as the most expensive medical and dental system in the world. I have visited America many times, and there are a lot of things America does very well, others not so well. Labeling me as an American hater is as shallow as a mud puddle.

I don't tolerate posters who call my honesty into question. You are on ignore now, goodbye.

Example: The Pentagon has bought up most of the rare earth production of Mt. Weld in Australia, to quit dependence on Chinese supply. Yeah, I might buy a Chinese car, if I was dumb enough to believe the reliability would match that of established Japanese and Korean brands, and the servicing would not throw a customer under a bus. They are cheap for a reason.

You probably would have said the same thing about Hitler. Are you Chamberlain's love child? Ukraine is not going to lose. Whether it has to cede the Donbas is moot; however, Russia has already lost. An economy without the ability to import spare parts, a banking system cut off from the world, and a demoralized military running out of tanks to burn. A population with a standard of living returned to the days of the USSR. The butcher's bill in Ukraine is already more than Russia had casualties in Afghanistan over 9 years. First time I have seen a dozen senior military commanders killed in battle, not to mention the purge of espionage personnel and generals back at the Kremlin. Russia has nobody by the balls, except apologists and defeatists. The pivot away from dependence on Russian oil and gas is already happening, just as countries have started pivoting away from dependence on Chinese supply chains.

Russia's own Putin-approved economists are saying Russian GDP will shrink by 10% in the coming year, and that forecast is probably gilding the lily. That fact makes your statement Russia is not paying complete BS. You would rather see Ukraine subjugated so you can keep warm? That's the spirit.

I would have thought my use of the word "may" would be comprehensible to most people.

I suppose that explains why I have never lost money buying and selling gold. The US dollar is the world's reserve currency. That is based on belief, AFAIK a government debt of $30 trillion is not solid fundamentals. Switzerland and Sweden lead the world in terms of innovation, America comes in third. South Korea is climbing up the rankings fast, because it employs more scientists per million people than any other country.

Never been to Manchester, I understand due to the foibles of the English language a native of the city is called a Mancunian. Please don't put evil thoughts in my head, I have enough already.

It would be more accurate to describe the food as snacks. I usually spend between 80 and 150 baht on a takeaway, more if I am ordering fish or beef steak in a restaurant.

Far left agenda? As far as Australians are concerned, Americans do not know what the terms left and socialist mean. We would consider Biden moderate, slightly right of centre. Although it is ironic most Americans don't realize their military has some very socialist characteristics. You are not going to get to separate Trump from being a candidate in 2024, unless he is in prison. He has hijacked the Republican Party, Fox News, and social media so completely every GOP candidate for office has to kiss his butt, and I can't think of any moderate Republican ( if there is such a thing left ) that would waste their time and money standing against him in the primaries. Personally, I don't think it is woke to be trying to prevent more Sandy Hooks and Uvaldes.

IMO Biden and the White House are making measured responses to a series of crises not of their making. You may be right, and Trump may get re-elected in 2024. Say goodbye to integrity, decency and common sense. In fact, America and the rest of the world can collectively BOHICA.

You bought a copy Rolex, some of them actually do work quite well. Permit me to doubt you bought the real thing for that money.

A couple of your whinges were in the trivial class. Nobody wants a defamation suit here, the truth is not an acceptable defense in this country. I have no doubt what you are saying is true.

Posted one hour ago by you, quote: " Actually I have both." Short term memory loss? Or semantics?

I stayed in 4 and 5 star hotels, flew business and first class when I was traveling on the company account for many years. I don't see any necessity to do the same on my own money. If you are claiming you are sensible, I am wondering why you made the OP, because any person with sense would have known it was bound to attract derision. Presumably you are not so wealthy as to afford a defamation suit if you named the hotel.

The OP buys a watch for 100 baht, and expects it to be waterproof? I'd be surprised if it even kept time.

Nothing so dramatic, he attended a Boris Johnson COVID party.

You forgot the temples.

I have not needed my air purifiers this year in Chiang Rai, the rainy season started early. Dare I whisper the words climate change? Be that as it may, I just crank up the air purifiers when the meter hits 100, the air I breathe is back down to 25 in 20 minutes.

I can talk to my son any time I want by DUO or ZOOM in Australia. I haven't been back to Australia during COVID, can't be bothered with the hoops to jump through at either end. Apart from the price of gasoline, I can't say there has been any increase in my cost of living, which would be a lot more in Australia and a lot of other countries. Lay that squarely on the Russian doorstep.

Perhaps you have not noticed. The Indians I have known, to a man, were as tight as a duck's bum.

I don't pretend to be an expert. Having said that, if you are going to spend 4000 baht - half a month's accommodation in my Chiang Rai condo - for just one night in a hotel, I think it's fair to say you have more money than sense.

500 - 600 baht/night hotels are my style, no need for fancy trimmings. If I want a really good breakfast in Chiang Mai, there are several places I used to know that would be happy to cook me scrambled eggs and good coffee for 200 - 300 baht. In out of the way places such as Nan, Loei and Mae Hong Son, my technique was to stay at a cheap hotel, then go to the most expensive hotel in town and pay for their buffet breakfast. Can't remember getting refused by anyone.

To Rittenhouse, his guns are more important than the children murdered at Sandy Hook and Uvalde. Says a lot about his values. Is it too much to hope he won't breed? Sadly, many Americans glamorize guns. Other nations have grown up.

How do you know Taiwan is unprepared, do you sit in on the planning meetings of their military? As the Ukrainian war has shown, modern shoulder-fired missiles are leveling the playing field. Russia has a superior air force to Ukraine, not doing them much good, is it? China's biggest food import is soybeans, guess where that comes from? Hint: from China's biggest customer. Silicon Valley outsources the manufacture of high-end semiconductors to Taiwan, there is nothing to say the US could not bring that capacity back home. My mistake, Poroshenko is an oligarch, which led me to think he is cut from the same cloth as the Russians.