swissie

That's the point I am trying to make.

Visit Basel (Switzerland). The desire to evaluate "statistics" will be greatly reduced. Especially as the Ukrainian refugees have no interest of ever returning to a devastated country. A country they were not interested to defend in the first place, No wonder that returning Ukrainian "refugees " will not be welcomed back with flowers and singing the "National Anthem". Rather having them disqualified for live. And rightly so.

The "electoral college" is not understood by the rest of the world. Nor by the American voter.

Twist it and turn it as you may. I have spoken the truth. The decision who to marry is still vastly different between a modern day "western woman" and a Thai "flower of the Isaan".

A vast aerea of the Ukraine can not be considered a "war zone". Overwhelmingly, most Ukrainians do not feel the urge to "flee" to western countries. But, alone in my small home country, there are now over 70 thousand Ukrainian "refugees". About 15% are gainfully employed, the rest enjoys the benefits of "social security". Among them a great number of "able bodied young men". Will all those "refugees" receive a warm welcome once the war is over? Rather not. They will stay here, claiming they would have to fear "repercussions" in the Ukraine. (like the Russian prisoners of war, returning back to Stalins empire). That will be their narrative. A slap in the face for those Ukrainians that have decided to stand their ground, instead of heading west to explore the benefits of the western social security systems. Finally: The status of "refugees" must be re-defined, Otherwise (due to climate change and endless political turmoil) half of the African population will end up in Europe, enjoying "refugee-status". End of.

True words spoken. Upon the fall of the Berlin wall, ex chancellor Helmut Kohl assuered Putin that there would be no "eastward expansion" of NATO. But that's exactly what happened. Looking at the map, as a Russian, I would also feel "encirceld". The eastward expansion of NATO was absolutely uncalled for and entirely unnecessary. Always keeping in mind, that NATO is not a bunch of Hula Hoop dancers but a military organisation. AND THAT IS THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM. And, making it more "spicy": In the eastern Ukraine people speak and think Russian. Something like a "homecoming".

A long way from the Yucatan Penisula to Thailand. At 70 I would want to spend time in a solitary retreat, as I have done and seen everything, preferrably Canada. Talking to bears and nobody else. But, as a solitary retreat I would not choose Thailand. In connection with Thailand, something you want to tell us, so far afraid to tell us? Between Yucatan and Thailand, there is a time "gap". Care to fill in the gap?

I always found you spend too much time "online" in your room. Glad to hear that you have "hit the streets" finally. What you describe is something that happened over the last 50 years in Thailand. You should have gone out more often. A cleaning lady/girl at your hotel (erning 6000 Bht) will be thrilled to meet a ugly foreighner. As a matter of fact, her girlfriends will tell her that she has won the lottery and envy her accordingly. Those ladies/girls do not feel "enslaved". Quite the opposite, if something like this would lead to marriage with the ugly Farang she really has hit the "jackpot". You really should go out more often. Thus discovering that something like that is just normal procedure in tourist hot spots. Try it. Go out. The real world is so much more exiting than a 24/7 online existance.

Sorry to say, but I have turned my elephants into a bunch of spoiled brats, refusing to work and threathening to join the "Labor Elephant Union". = LEU. . Some neighbors tell me that my spoiled elephants resemble the youth of today more and more.

I am a bit disturbed. 15K to feed your wife? For this amount I can feed my 3 elephants that I keep as pets. Eighter your wife is very hungry or my elephants are on a voluntary diet. OR: For 15K you could enjoy the homy athmosphere of a parlor every second day of the month. All in good humor. I am on your side.

True English Gentlemen will not go to the toilet to do this. They do it on the matress while singing "God save the King". Much to the pleasure of onlookers.

None of the above. Trump will give tax breaks for the rich. = Boosting the federal deficit. Harris will increase benefits for "the poor". = Boosting the federal deficit.

Holy smoke. Never show up with the "Financial Times". You will be considered as a wealthy Farang. Price goes up immediately.

Always take a thick newspaper with you to the parlor. Spread the newspaper all over the matress, thus avoiding former bodily fluids. On top of that you will gain respect as a newspaper reading intellectual.

Dear Dr. Watson, your conclusions are not correct, but I admire your effort. Greetings, Sherlock Holmes.

A possible difference could be that "western women" increasingly earn their own money, therefore less need to marry a "wallet". As opposed to a large part of the Thai female population.

Maybe we should start to realise that the century of US/European dominance of the world is coming to an end. Politically and economically. The next century will belong to Asia, S/E Asia. No wonder that those currencies are starting to reflect this fact. Currency exchange rates of 20 years ago will never come back again. Period. One can "hedge" the future decline of "western currencies" at an insurance premium of 5% per year (average). The other "hedge" is Gold. Unfortunately the Gold hedge also costs you about 5% per year (carrying charge). Rats! The devil never sleeps.

Surely, too much of something can become boring. Even the "charms of the ladies". My observation is, that few Farangs engage in activities that benefit the local Thai folks. Some are starting to look for a "stable relationship" as an anchor in their later years, after having explored all the possibilities of short term aquaintances. Often resulting in "marriage". This may work but statistically it does mostly not work, at least not for the Farang. IMHO best for Farangs is to post on AN during the week, (relentlessly) and hit the town over the weekend. Some of us do just that, I never got the impression that they get bored. Way to go, before considering marriage.

Correction: It must read "even in a buyers market".

I started investing/trading when I was 23 years old. I found FOREX trading the hardest. Trading by fundamentals: Tons of data must be interpreted. (Including the guesswork what central banks want to do with their currency). Trading by "technicals": It seems currencies do not "obey" standart patterns. In no trading arena have I discovered more Bull or Bear traps. Looking back, Real Estate investements in good locations would have yielded more than anything else. Able to apply "leaverage" at it's finest. As long as one is able to pay the mortgage, even in a sellers market, the Banks will leave you alone. Very much opposed to your stock/commodities broker, serving you a "margin call" if things go south. Therefore, "leverage" in R/E makes a lot of sense. "Leaverage" in stocks/commodities? = Handle with care.

Let's suppose you married your Thai Wife when you were around 40 years old. The both of you are now 20 years older, living in Thailand. Always assuming you are still together, what made it last? Your and your wifes physical atrraction has not increased over the years. So, what is the "glue" that held it together for the last 20 years?

Your children about 20 years old? Talk to them like a dutch uncle: Start a (monthly?) retirement savings plan now. "Time" is the greatest wealth builder. Speak to them softly: "To start a retirement plan at the age of 55 is pointless". By convincing them to act accordingly, you may have given them the greatest gift you could ever have given them. Especially as the state based "retirement-concepts" would have run it's course, due to "underfunding".

Some post show me clearly what a bad person I am. I am considering self flagellation. Between 1996 and 2005 I really thought Pattaya is the paradise on earth. The ladies and the tourists were friendly. No cause for aggressiveness as everything was plentyful at a reasonable price. Therefore, few "barroom braws", relatively low crime rate. It seemed, that the "competitive factor" (a reason for much grief) was not present. The male visitors did not have to "fight" for the charms of the ladies as anwhere else. Everybody happy. Almost something like a "brotherhood of man". Every time I made the aquaintance of a lady, I knew that somewhere in the Isaan, a houshold would be able to buy a TV. The ladies as well as I, found nothing wrong with that. There were times, I thought I did more good than mother Theresa in the black hole of Kalkutta. Gradually, things changed but not for the better. Not ashamed to say, that this was the closest thing I ever encountered resembling a "paradise". Not sure if a "heavenly paradise" could top it. But then, nothing lasts forever. Today, for me, it's a "lost paradise". Adam was thrown out of paradise for the second time.

Overdue "technical correction" taking place currently. Fine with me.

Every Pharma Company producing BP medication must be thrilled.