Dcheech

I don't understand where you get this pride thing from. How did you determine that .. a survey? You sound like someone flapping wind over a Leo. Gnarf.

Oh my! Are people defaming China, yet again?! How about China grows up, gets a thicker skin, quits whingeing non stop about real or imagined slights. China is a big nation now, time to star acting like one, quit playing the poor little victim card. The sanctimonious victim/bully schtick is bloody old.

A very contentious subject here. This from the health ministry. https://thethaiger.com/coronavirus/health-ministry-revises-criteria-for-administration-of-booster-vaccine-doses

A vendor has been selling glass bongs at our Sunday walking street for years. If it was illegal, he would have been packed off long ago.

Or he is just lying. Given in Thai culture you have to have an excuse, any excuse, no matter how unbelievable. Just as likely he killed her, and doing the culturally appropriate shoveling of bull manure.

There is no tight US Thailand relations. That is all pro gov media speak. It makes them happy to claim it, say it. Oh those tricky Thais. Antony Blinken is just doing his job, both he and the Thai government know the underlying realities, even if the 'approved media' likes to gleefully burble nonsense.

Phuket lifeguards are as effective as Uvalde policemen. Garf

In my case, I forgot. After the 15 day BK ASQ hotel solitary confinement, it happens. I had a re entry permit and a current visa. When I realized the error my life had fallen into, I went to Chiang Mai IM. They did not fine me for being late. However they did NOT say it wasn't needed. They wrote up a new form, inputted info and stapled a new TM 30 slip to my passport. They have nothing better to do, it gives their existence, meaning.

That is what was going on at Uvalde. Adhering to policies and protocols? Current news up this morning; Police Chief Pete Arredonado placed on leave amid ongoing Federal and State investigations. Someone (lot of denial who), made the decision all were dead and shooter was barricaded in. As such no immediate action was taken, even though messages received, people alive, wounded dying, need help. What policy and protocol were in affect, no one is talking much about.

Great press for Pattaya and by extension Thailand. This is what they think of "foreign tourists", a popular stereotype among the local populace. One the government chooses NOT to discourage, but encourage. Pattaya, a Family Friendly Resort.

The Ping River remains a ditch filled with stagnant water. It moved four days, maybe five, after the big week long rains a month back. Reservoirs & Dams remain closed. We see clouds, streaming rain, many afternoons. Occasionally they drop water on us, mostly they miss. Dry here 4 Km's from the moat.

They were cool long before that. The 97 SEA economic collapse required conspiracy theories to hide the role of non performing loans, and the Thai class able get them from the banks, which ultimately imploded baht & country. This had to be blamed on someone or something. The US & Soros fit the bill for many of these theories.