swissie

Thanks for clarification. Concerning the imbalance between males and females in Russia might be cause for worries, when this becomes widely know in the west. - As any sort of "companionship" for Farangs has gotten harder (more expensive) in Thailand, could this encourage western seniors to look for greener pastures in Russia? Especially if this would be combined with an "easy retirement visa", in combination with a cheap Russian Ruble? If a stampede should take place, it is always good to know that only the early participants of a stampede turn out to be true winners. American history, "How the west was won".😊

Possibly some final thoughts are in order: If a country at war even has to import their AMMUNITION because they can not produce sufficient amounts in their own country, must serve as a wake-up call for every unbiased observer. Quiz question: Wich country must import their Ammo? Russia or the Ukraine?

In the late 1950ies, Nikita Chrustschov installed the Ukraine as a "administrative steward" concering the Crimea. He diden't make it part of the Ukraine in a political/geografical sense. Before, the Crimea was part of the Tsaristic Empire since Katharina the great, after that part of USSR.

Thanks for supplying those statistics. Amazing how readily available those "accurate" Russian statistics are to us in the West. No such statistics concerning the Ukraine available in the "western press": Why not? Probably because those same statistics would show that the Ukraine is far worse off than Russia. But, since the beginning of the war, the "western media" has subjected itself to "voluntary censorship", always in favor of the Ukrainian cause.

Of course we know that the lack of electricity for any lenght of time will cause problems. Answers so far not really satisfactory. So, I will rephrase: How long can a power outage last before all my vital facts (social security number, Tax ID number etc etc etc etc etc etc ) be "lost forever". All of us realising that without the digital etc etc etc etc etc our word would come to a standstill. REMEDIES? Come on boys and girls, this is a serious matter.

Yes have. 3 days ago in my supermarket the "system" was down. Paid in cash. King of the hill while "card customers" looked like financially beached wales. More so, the young cashier ladies, seeing "cash", looked at me in a dreamy way. Not having seen such positive facial expressions by young ladies in ages. Possibly thingking that finally a sack of coins will eventually buy more bread than cripto currencies.

Scientiflicty correct, humans can cause EMP bursts as well as the good old sun. I myself can produce such happenings in my underwear after consuming liberal amounts of CIALIS. But that is not the topic.

Called "solar wind". Last such ocurrence, aiming at the earth was about 120 years ago. No computers then.

Actually it is a "doomsday" question. The more I expect of you (an expert) to tell me without much "but, if, possibly". Speak freely. = Worst case, for example.

Amateur asking. UPS? (United Parcel Service?) Future AI servers using the power of mid-sized towns with solar and wind?

If Donald cuts off the "funding", there will be peace. The Ukraine returning home to the Russian Empire, where they have been for centuries before.

Quote: "Gigantic loss of life and material.Economy slowly falling apart". Proportionally higher in the Ukraine. Russian economy not falling apart. Quote: "How much have they really gained"? = 1/4 of the Ukrainian territory so far.

No power, no computers? A question posed by a true amateur: How long will servers and all other digital devices keep working if a large scale electrical power outage should occur, batteries exhausted? Depending on device I suppose. 2 days, 2 months, 2 years? Worst case?

Some posters here are constantly claiming that Russia is "doomed". - Who is making territorial gains? Who is in the process of winning this war? The Russian economy is self-sufficient, has an endlees supply of natural/human resources. As opposed to the Ukraine, depending to 90% on "foreighn support". Without this foreighn-support, the Ukraine would never have been able to conduct any sort of "effective defensive warfare" against the Russians in the first place. So, who is "doomed"? Peace talks next year will show how much territory and state souvereighnity the Ukraine will be able to retain. The price will be high, especially as Donald thinks the price to support a hopeless war is too high already. Far away from his "America First" gospel. Seems to me, that a number of numb-asses here adhere to the same phlosophy as Adolf, the "red army" merely standing 100 km away from Berlin, still insisting that the "Endsieg" is close at hand.

I notised that audio translation software has gotten better over time (english/thai). But german/thai is not very satisfactory still. Any recommendations?

I have listed a number of European countries "at risk" above already. Forgot to add Turkey. Their "party manifests" clearly show where they see the "European Future".

During my time in the tropics I have been bitten by a hundre different "bugs". This worked for me: - At the first "itch", don't scrach the affected area. Take a cotton puff, drench it in 70% medical alcohol and apply it vigorously to the affected area. Minor bug bites will be neutralised this way. Important: Act at the first itch, not 3 days later. Not sure if this will work on spider bites, snake bites or bites inflicted by polar bears.

I am insured within a HMO concept. So I get my treatement(s) in their "Health Center". 12 Doctors are working there. They came up with this idea. I best ignore their new idea as they seem to be the only medics that propose this new measuring procedure worldwide. OR: Could it be that my COPD affects my BP overproportionally "under normal life conditions" and this is why they want to know those readings in my case? Any connection between COPD and BP?

Had "rezum" done 3 years ago. Infection ocurred, spent 3 months in agony after OP. Today, my prostate problems (early stage) are back again.I will have to see my Urulogist again. Had my "rezum" done in a highly respected university hospital in Switzerland. Same hospital denied, that the infection could have occurred in their hospital. (!?!) Without infection, rezum might be recommendable. But why does the problem re-occur only after 3 years? Ask your medics, how long their different "cures" will last. Imagine you are getting 100 years old, how often do you have to do a "rezum" every 3 years??? In any case: If a post operative infection occurs, you will be going thru hell for the next 3 months.

Where does the anger come from? Maybe the endless parliamentary discussions that produce nothing but "compromises" that do not adress/rectify current problems concerning little people. Getting the impression, that whatever "the government" legislates, it's in favor of the upper 5% of a society. To some, the China/Russia syndrome might be tempting. With a stroke of a pen arising problems can be adressed/rectified, without parliamentary discussions that can last for years. Tempting for many. Humans prefer easy solutions over complicated ones. Can be bliss or curse. Only hindsight can tell. Unfortunately.

I rather name western european countries where autokrats (or future autokrats)) have gained massively in the recent past (worldwide the list would be too long): Russia, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Serbia, Kroatia, Germany, France. All riding on a wave of support by "the little people".

The OP is not ashamed. The above mentioned potentates were not democratically elected. As opposed to today, where the little people elect their future autokrats into office.

Some little people have to work 3 jobs to stay alive. But of course, all of this is just "self inflicted defeatism".

Problem is, that those modern day "Ceasars" want to do away with democracy.

Globally, autocratic right wingers are being elected into office by "little people". Don't they know that the dismantling of any Social Security Concept is high on their agenda? Their gospel as far as this is concernd is: "Let them eat s*hit and let them die". Why do little people vote for their executioners?