Lacessit

I am merely basing my predictions on what happened last time under Trump. Perhaps you have forgotten how his trade war with China screwed American farmers, so badly they needed massive subsidies to placate them. IMO it will be even worse this time around, because the people Trump appoints to various positions will need only one qualification - absolute loyalty. Competence and nous are not even on the radar. As far as Harris is concerned, Americans will probably never be adult enough to elect a female leader. The Democrats failed to learn that lesson with Clinton.

I usually get attacked on the basis my post count is too high, implying I have nothing better to do with my time.

Ukraine has its own language, and alphabet. This is what the average Ukrainian thinks of Russia:

I have no experience with ladyboys. No desire to get any either.

I get it. News media are held to a standard of accuracy in reporting. Social media such as X or Truth Social have no such obligation. Madness.

Strange how many losers support him.

I don't know why anyone should be surprised, government by oligarchs is coming to America. It's going to get messy when the trump sheeple at the bottom of the pyramid realize how completely they have been conned. Maybe the Second Amendment will become useful, according to the Law of Unintended Consequences.

The housing crisis in Australia is the direct result of government policy, which gave investors lucrative tax breaks. The last leftist government that tried to reverse said tax breaks was resoundingly defeated, after a scare campaign. Rents are through the roof. What bugs me is the fact our politicians can retire on fat pensions, after screwing things up for average people. They should be at the back of a dole queue. I can buy a condo here, or rent one, at a fraction of the cost in Australia. The current leftist government in Australia is planning to tax social platforms that don't pay for news. Musk and Zuckerberg are squealing like stuck pigs. https://www.ndtv.com/video/australia-to-tax-digital-platforms-that-don-t-pay-for-news-meta-releases-ai-model-872973

If he is pushing a mop on minimum wage, he's probably not paying much.

I really don't know. IMO America has gone too far down the path of greed is good. Any suggestion there of more equitable distribution of wealth, is automatically met with the leftist label. I have seen Tiger Woods play, accompanied by a phalanx of bodyguards. I suspect, like Putin, high net worth individuals will increasingly have to employ large contingents of security staff, for protection from the Luigis of the world. It's not relevant to me in Thailand, as I will be gone in the next few years anyway.

IIRC you were calling anyone who did not agree with your views on X halfwits. Perhaps you should consider lifting your own game.

It's not hard to understand if one looks at readily available data. The Russian population is 144 million. It has 120 billionaires. America has a population of 330 million. It has 801 billionaires. The combined wealth of Zuckerberg, Gates, Buffett, Musk and Bezos is approximately $1.1 trillion. Russian oligarchs are pikers in comparison. As Lord Acton said, power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. The same could be said of money. russia

IIRC the shops in Pantip that sold phones were on the ground floor, whereas the phone repair shops were on the second floor.

As long as the financials are in order, doing the extension yourself is reasonably easy. Remember to check at the Immigration office for the days they process extensions. This is my yearly checklist of documents, for a retirement extension: TM7 + 1 Passport photo. Obtain form from Immigration, blue biro. Bank Letter. Bank statement, 12 months duration. Bank Book updated same day. Photocopy update as well. Copies of all pages of bank book. Copies of last extension + front page of passport, plus all stamped pages. Ensure hidden stamps are copied, and copy foldovers. Reason for Extension: Retirement, Thai family. 1900 baht Keep 1900 baht receipt, needed when collecting passport if left there. ( Blue colour ) Sign every page. Apply two weeks before due date, to address any glitches an IO finds.

If Pantip is closed, the phone shops would go elsewhere. My best guess would be the Airport mall.

I remember an American in Chiang Mai who wanted to walk into Laos through the jungle, after swimming the Mekong. Some people think passports and borders don't apply to them. He's lucky to be alive.

An interesting read from an Australian publication: https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/life/auto/2024/12/15/ev-batteries-new-research?

What gender do you assign to a ladyboy?

Why would I be interested in traveling to those countries? As a sensible person, I read my country's travel advice. Here it is for Russia: "We continue to advise do not travel to Russia. Foreigners, including Australians, are at risk of arbitrary detention or arrest. Russian authorities make strong, negative comments regarding Western countries, including Australia. Local authorities may adopt a more negative attitude towards foreigners in Russia and arbitrarily enforce local laws. Avoid any protests or demonstrations and avoid commenting publicly on political developments. There's a high threat of terrorism. Terrorist groups, including al-Qaeda and Daesh-aligned groups, continue to call for attacks in Russia. Attacks can be indiscriminate and may occur on or around seasonal, festive, or religious events in public places, including popular tourist sites. Attacks could occur with little or no warning. Always be alert to possible threats. Military activity is underway in the regions of Kursk and Belgorod. Russian authorities introduced a federal state of emergency in these regions. The security situation could deteriorate with little warning". Also bear in mind to get into Russia, you may have to use a Russian airline, which is struggling with maintenance due to sanctions. Do you feel lucky?

I doubt very much the charms of Russian women could offset the climate, food, and risk of being arrested as a Western spy. I have not noticed companionship for farangs getting harder here. If my current GF was out of the picture, I'd have half a dozen women lining up to replace her.

India was part of the British empire, so what? Empires rise and fall. Ukrainians hate Russians, with good reason. How would you like it if a neighboring country deliberately starved a quarter of your population to death, then immigrated its own population into your country, and decreed their language was only to be taught in your schools?

Both. Russia is importing artillery shells and small arms ammunition from North Korea. It is also importing North Korean soldiers, which shows a certain desperation in the Kremlin to avoid drafting recruits from Moscow and St. Petersburg.

The figures I have posted are from Russian sources. Apart from the male female ratio There's no doubt Ukraine is taking a battering. The battle losses are censored by Ukraine's military command. The question is whether the Ukrainians are killing Russian invaders in a favorable ratio.

Just delete them as you get them, don't open them. They will give up after a while. I only open emails from people and companies I know.

The only time I have ever experienced boredom was when I spent six months being a component of a McKinsey cost cutting exercise, which IMO was totally fraudulent. As long as I have my books, music, videos, golf and wheels, I don't think I will ever be bored here. When my mortality happens, it happens. I'm not going to dwell on it.