Dcheech

Pronouns & no talk about climate change?!  Wow, that is impressive stuff.    I didn't know army guys were running around in dresses. However it does give a new angle on understanding why jrBushs desert adventure trip was such a mega disaster.

For a completely different reaction, to the market regaining ground lost since “liberation Day”. 

Surprised & very happy I had a chance to sell on the upswing. Not to be missed, so much so, I doubled up. My budget, runs July to July, mainly investments. No faith in the long-term stability of the market. What with tariff shocks to start hitting this month & The Donald in charge. I put a sell order in on the weekend, not knowing if I will have this chance again. It did not go through until Monday, after the market closed, so I did eat one day of the downturn. Market reached its high point last Friday, dropping since. However, can’t be happier. I sold to fund me for two years, not one. Gives a person the means to wait it out & not be forced into a sell when investments are low in value.

‘When did Noah build the ark? Before the rain, before the rain.’

Written in the mid 30's when fascism seemed an answer to many. Father Coughlin was on the radio, Charles Lindbergh would soon be cranking up his America First Committee. My paperback copy  from 1976, make up work for Mrs. Driscoll.

- '"Buzz" Windrip, a demagogue who is elected President of the United States, after fomenting fear and promising drastic economic and social reforms while promoting a return to patriotism and "traditional" values." - Sinclair knew which direction the danger would come from.
 

It is up and open again, although you have to rejoin. As for 'positivity & female energy'  I guess many here prefer CM Facebooks sites with 'negativity & trans energy'   . I am not joking about that comment, BTW. 

Cheers  

Long Gun wasn't bad, if it is still in existence. They had choreographed shows, better than a bevy of tired dancers clutching poles.  A few comments about it being expensive. True or is this just the usual suspects, having a group ear whinge?! 

26 minutes ago, thaipo7 said:

Right - We need Iran to have nuclear weapons that can strike the US.   What do you not understand?  They said they will use against the US and chant 'Death to the USA' when they want to.  They only understand strength against them.  Biden was much better to have in the WH right?

Pakistan has nukes. Those are the guys who were sheltering/protecting Osama in Abbottabad. The guys who aid & support the terrorists who killed 24 tourists in Kashmir, yesterday. With friends like that .... you're getting your knitting in a knot about Iran?!  

Gee, another article from the Murdoch Media.    

It's just a car accident. It's not like he shot a decorated on-duty police officer in a Thong Lor nightclub, or anything. 

When I was backpacking I did the obligatory 'sights', which was incredibly stressful.  The blind leap of faith. You watch the locals do it, you know it can be done, but .... argh. Walk out slowly, at a steady pace and trust they will all weave around you. Second trip, stayed in the old town & old French quarter. A few of the "sites' but seriously chilled visit. Likely the reason why I enjoyed it so.

On 4/15/2025 at 1:56 PM, NorthernRyland said:

Hanoi was high stress for me compared to Thailand and the people themselves even were a little hostile and standoffish

Heh – I do recall a few unfriendly faces in Hanoi's old town/market area. However, never an issue. Hanoi is a great place to spend 5 days or a week. Stay at a boutique hotel in the old town. Trendy restaurants, coffee, French style breakfasts & walk around the lake in the morning. The traffic is another story. A nightmare. It’s a fricking leap of faith crossing streets or bigger roads. Did Vietnam as a backpacker, in contrast, really liked taking a cush week here. 

Mahseer posted

Quote

"Not sure if a seasonal surge or full time suspect the former. The charm that was once Luang Prabang has definitely gone."

 Went to LP regularly in the aughts/naughts. Always knew, it could get overrun. Will get updated on Chinese holiday times. I’ll give it another visit before writing it off completely.

 

Visited a long time ago – might still be worth it

Georgetown Penang. The old Chinese colonial part of town

Darjeeling. You have to go through Calcutta but … Nice hill station with Kanchenjunga looming in the distance.
 ----------- 
Was looking at a Tasmania hiking/fishing trip, or NZ. Then wuhan & the house, put all that on the back burner. Still,  an idea.





 

1 hour ago, Mahseer said:

Be careful with LP. Ever since the railway went in it's absolutely swarming with those from the north.

Last there December 2019, just before Wuhan flu, & before the rail link opened. With all the other news, never hear much about it recently. LP packed with Chinese tourists (sigh). When were you last there? Any comments or further observations? 

On 4/13/2025 at 2:11 AM, Patong2021 said:

Yes,  Russia was  helping Assad. However, there was no concern for the people or a motivation  rooted in expanding a religious doctrine. Rather, the goal of Russia was to manipulate oil prices so that it could get as high a price as possible. It wanted the port in Syria so it could meddle in the Mediterranean too. Russia has no love for Iran because Iran is also linked to  violent fundamentalists in the Russian "stan" republics.  Russia and Putin are a threat to world peace, but in a different way than Iran.

Russia aided Syria because of past, soviet alliances & yes, access to a port, but little to do with oil. Syria has oil, not a major player. Maybe Russia has no love for Iran but they’re a top military supplier after China in the Ukraine war. In fact today Iran has military/tech units in Crimea coordinating Russian/Iranian drone tech attacks..

As China gets 90 per cent of Iranian oil. Netty and Trump bellowing hits a reality wall. Not that anyone believes what those two say anyway, but attack Iran?! ----- bellow all you want, Not going to happen.

22 hours ago, NorthernRyland said:

I'm at my wife's townhouse for 3 days during Songkran in Mae Jo. No windows except on the front and back and everyone here closes up everything tight at night so even though it's nice outside it's warm and muggy in the house. All of her neighbors do this too. They have no appreciation for enjoying nice weather and prefer to be locked inside in the AC and with fans. I don't get it.

The house has lots of windows, and two sliding glass doors. All are screened, no problem with opening it up, AC off, let the breeze blow. Saying that, people here, get wound up about Power. Leaving the lights on our fence/wall, on all night, a major catastrophe. Leaving the AC running, an extra half hour, could mean the end of existence as we know it. As I’m the person paying the bills, should this matter? Questions with no answers.