Lacessit

Toilet paper here is used for napkins, in lieu of handkerchiefs, in general for anything requiring tissues. I have got to the stage I consider the "civilised" West unhygienic, after having used a bum gun here for many years.

IIRC if one changes their ISP and email address, they can then register with a different nom-de-plume. I may be wrong, perhaps a moderator could explain, but may not want to.

What other kind is there?

Trump wanted a trade war with China in his last term. He lost - badly. Countries like Canada and Mexico are just giving lip service to Trump's obsessions. They know his threats are empty, Americans will be hurt worse than Canadians or Mexicans if he actually implements them. Picture what would happen if Canada shut down its exports of oil to the US. There would be rationing at gas stations across the country. As for China, people do not realise how independent of America it has become. China is leading in AI with DeepSeek. It is also ahead of anyone else in achieving sustained energy with nuclear fusion. Chinese EV's are outselling Tesla in Europe and the rest of Asia. Legacy carmakers in the US are being left in the dust. China has thousands of kilometres of high speed rail criss-crossing the country. The USA has just 80 km. Trump should be afraid of a trade war with China, American farmers would be put to the sword all over again.

Unless you are female.

Tell that to a Nissan Leaf owner in Australia. Bought the car for AUD 50K, battery failed after 6 years. Out of warranty. AUD 38K replacement cost, thank you.

I bought a Mazda 2 there, odometer 18,000 km, two and a half years old. 430K baht. New, RRP 620K baht. One year warranty. I consider I got a good deal.

None. I am quoting from one of your most under-appreciated authors, John D MacDonald. A keen observer of American culture.

Are you paranoid? Why would I bother to plan my trip with the location of gas stations in mind? They are everywhere in Thailand. Show me one gas station in Thailand that is more than 100 km away from the next. Geez..... Now if you are talking about planning a trip in outback Australia, that's entirely different. I wasn't aware I was making any arguments, weak or otherwise, against EV's. Like ICE's, they have their strengths and weaknesses. I have two cars, one old, one comparatively new. My life expectancy is such both will easily outlast me. It makes no financial sense whatsoever for me to be buying a new car of any kind. My take on cars is if you do buy a new car, you run it into the ground. The best financial decision with a depreciating asset is to buy a car which is a couple of years old, with low mileage. The worst is buying a new car, then trading it in after a couple of years. IMO that's dumb.

AFAIK any Samoan would cheerfully gut and broil any mainland American.

There is no need to have a planner for gas stations. If I wanted to, I could even fill up in my GF's village. Mae Kachan, Wiang Pa Pao, Mae Suai and Mae Lao all have multiple gas stations. The gas stations have big signs I can see from a mile off, telling me I am approaching a gas station.

As I said, I have done the round trip once without refueling. My usual pattern is 2-3 days in Chiang Mai, visiting friends and a couple of my favorite restaurants. Breakfast at Sausage King, dinner at Antonio's. Special occasions, Le Coq D'Or. My GF catches up with her friends while we are there, I stay with a friend. Shopping at Rimping for groceries I can't get in Chiang Rai. Chiang Mai has the only podiatrist that I know of in the North. After all the running around, I am usually down to a quarter tank. I fill up on the way back at Doi Saket. Sometimes, I turn off at Mae Kachan to Phayao, the road less travelled. Horses for courses. If I had an EV, I would not be concerned if I had a coffee while waiting for it to recharge. OTOH, I'd be p!ssed off if I had to wait for a couple of other EV's, and waste an hour.

Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai is 200 KM. Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai is 200 km. My math might be a bit rusty, but that adds up to 400 km. I am not inclined to believe anything Yellowtail says, IMO he lies for practice.

They are just a couple of bits of bureaucracy I negotiate without getting stressed about it. There are no bedroom photos or home visits, I am not married to a Thai.

If you are in the Commonwealth, you get a telegram from King Charles if you make it to 100. Something to look forward to.

It's a toss-up, one can always use banana leaves instead. IMO Immigration would not accept applications written on banana leaves.

Oh, look at me, I am so much better off than you poor peons with 90 day reports and yearly extensions. IMO people who post this kind of tosh are as shallow as a mud puddle. Do you enjoy being so insecure?

I do wonder what would happen if Thailand ran out of paper. Today, I picked up some steak at Makro. Two labels on it, a price for chicken ( cheaper ) and a price for beef. The checkout chick scanned the chicken label, even though the steak was clearly visible. Stopped at the door, wrong price paid on the receipt. One form generated to refund my money, give back the steak. Then another receipt after I paid the correct amount. 20 minutes of faffing around. Just as well I didn't buy ice cream.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02-03/asx-markets-business-news-live-blog-feb-3/104888500 How about finding some manners when you are asking me for something?

Given the American women I have met all seem to have an aura of entitlement, there isn't anything about them I have found attractive.

IMO your extension of stay may no longer be valid, and there would be problems with 90 day reporting. You would be unable to travel outside Thailand.

The US is not a democracy, it's an oligarchy.

The stock market reached record highs under Biden. Trump has spooked investors badly, $50 billion was wiped off the ASX today. Your guess is wrong already.

If I was a Canadian leader, I'd be looking for other countries wanting to buy Canadian oil.