Silencer

We just purchased a 1/2 rai lot (Koh Samui) and had the lot cleared and 125 truckloads of fill dirt laid down, graded, leveled. On two sides the dirt is exposed, not level with the existing ground (ranging in height of 1/2 meter to 1 meter higher). One of the construction crew suggested a retaining wall be installed as I will be letting the lot sit for awhile (maybe a year) before building on it. His design was 5-star; concrete footers 1.8m down, a very solid wall rising about a half meter above the fill dirt. Suitable for adding a wall on top later of 2-2.5m height. His price quote was 5-star as well :). I'm thinking this is more an attempt to get the foreigner to bite. Since the land is level, I believe whatever erosion occurs will be minimal and I can much more cheaply add some fill later, OR, simply make a makeshift temporary retaining wall (wood/plastic/metal) to minimize erosion. Thoughts on the need for a retaining wall in this situation?

After reading the story and the updated information from his friend, you are either to believe he was the original crime victim or grossly overreacted to a somewhat common occurrence. At this point I do not know who to believe. We are not hearing from other eyewitnesses, surely there are several, that could support his or her version of events.  

4 minutes ago, shdmn said:

My guess is a lot of his orders will just be ignored.  They will probably slow walk a lot of it and make up a bunch of excuse and lies.  In other words, the same sort of stuff he routinely does.  Or maybe he does us all a favor and quits like the sore loser and coward he is.

5 minutes ago, EricTh said:

 

Can Biden overwrite and cancel his exec orders in two months time?

 

So whatever he does within these two months would be useless anyway.

 

Major policies will go nowhere but probably won't be on the table. He will likely execute several executive orders that CAN be cancelled by the incoming President, He can issue pardons (which can't be changed) to a wide variety of people (some talk about Assange, Snowden, family members, former officials). 

4 minutes ago, EricTh said:

So he is still president before Jan 20?

 

Yes, he has full Presidential powers until noon on the 20th.

Reading some comments here, anyone can see the problems, and division, in the US on full display. Silly writings about conspiracy theories, someone saying "the majority of Americans prefer a progressive agenda" (untrue, most Americans fall left to right of center), the election has not been called (it has been called, just not certified), and on and on. We all know Trump is an egotistical manic-depressive, on full display for 4 years. So ofcourse he won't concede unless he discerns a personal benefit. Most of know that the election was fair, even if you uncover a vote (or ten) that can be contested for a variety of reasons, it won't change the outcome. Unless Trump and his Hill allies try to disrupt the electoral voting process, the biggest political issues the country faces are what will Trump do over the next couple of months and who will win the two Georgia Senate seats, which will have a huge impact on how Biden governs, and how much of the progressive agenda gets addressed (personally hoping not too much).

Anybody getting their news from only one news source is probably not worth knowing and certainly not worth having any type of realistic conversation with.

This regret probably fits in with this crowd. As a teenager I lived in Barcelona, Spain (70's). A friend and I took the ship to Ibiza (before it was the in place to party) accompanied by my mother who stayed at a separate hotel with her friend. One day my friend and I (we were aged 13-14, tall and lanky) went down to the hotel pool, which was packed with middle-aged women from Scandinavia on a tour, most having been drinking for awhile it seemed. After 10-15 mins a group of women sitting near us struck up a conversation. They pressed in closer and closer as we talked and laughed about our lives and theirs. Eventually, bathing suit tops began falling away, with pussies and thighs pressed against our legs. We were both uncomfortable and aroused at the same time. We were invited up to one of their rooms for "drinks" and were given the room number and time. We agreed. I don't think I moved from that lounger for at least 30 minutes, less my arousal be on full display.

Anyway, to make a long story short, we arrived, we drank and my friend ended up in one of the bedrooms with one of them, with a second one spending some time with him as well, while I remained in the living room, too shy to proceed beyond some fooling around with the two others that remained with me. They even showed me pics of their teenage daughters (thinking I might want a younger ride I suppose) and said I was welcome to visit anytime. Anyway, I had a chance at a story worthy of the old Penthouse forum section and I gave it a pass. Sigh. Thank God I discovered Thailand a bit later in life to create a new story every night. 

This seems like a good topic for a contest. Winner, closest to the official number, announced in 2022. You would need to factor in vaccine date and distribution, restrictions and travel rules (here and abroad), disposable income, horniness level of expats, 'travel bubbles' and whatever other variables you choose to consider and guess at. Winner gets a member upgrade. ????

I think Biden wins but it being 'clear' may take some time. Several states don't count mail in ballots until AFTER the polls close. If its close, the US (and world) will likely have to wait a few days for those states to tally up the incredibly high number of mailed-in/absentee ballots. It should be quit the <deleted> show until that happens. It all comes down to about 7 states (Florida, Pennsylvania,  Ohio, Wisconsin, Michigan, North Carolina, and Arizona (even though its close in Georgia and Texas as well, Trump should keep those). Trump needs most of those seven, especially Florida. If Biden wins Florida, it's over.

5 minutes ago, placeholder said:

As pointed out even a majority of Republicans favor increasing taxes on the wealthy and much stricter gun control laws. And close to half favor stricter environmental regulations. If you want to start cherry picking small groups of local voters, fine. But that's what you're doing: cherry picking.

I "cherry picked" YOUR stupid list of examples, exactly!!!!  You, obviously, do not understand the original question I was responding to which has nothing to do with your train of thought and has nothing to do with how the "far/radical left" is PERCEIVED.

2 minutes ago, placeholder said:

lots of stuff to disagree with here. But on taxation, even a majority of Republicans think the rich should be taxed more.

Fox News Poll: Voters favor taxing the wealthy, increasing domestic spending

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/fox-news-poll-voters-favor-taxing-the-wealthy-increasing-domestic-spending

 

 On gun control

Fox News Poll: Voters favor gun measures, doubt Congress will act

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/fox-news-poll-voters-favor-gun-measures-doubt-congress-will-act

 

And on the environment a huge majority of americans favor stricter environmental regulations and laws.

More Republicans say stricter environmental regulations are ‘worth the cost’

https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/02/07/more-republicans-say-stricter-environmental-regulations-are-worth-the-cost/

The question was what is viewed as far/radical left.  If you are in the WH or Congress, its <deleted> all what 'the people' want, its what you local voters want. Did the current Senate raise taxes, no. Did they pass environmental legislation to protect the environment, no. Did they pass gun control legislation, no. Why, because a good portion of their base would be furious, regardless if the majority of Americans want such legislation.  

17 minutes ago, simple1 said:

trump and supporters keep going on about the 'radical left' / far left', yet from a Western European POV never observed such policy platform commentary from the Dems, nor from their online policies. Out of curiosity, in US culture, what are the main policies that define 'radical left' / far left'?

As an independent moderate, I would guess they would list these (although there are many other issues) as far left, with some more radical than others. This is a generalization so someone else's view may differ but it gives you a sense of where the left and right split on some policy issues in the US. Some are just left views, while pushing the extremes would make you more radical. However, in today's climate in the US, everyone seems to be categorized as either "far/radical left" or "far/radical right" .

1) An optional healthcare system that would be available to all. Mandatory would be more radical.

2) Diverting some money from police to mental health and social services. Defunding for the sake of defunding would be more radical.

3) Free university education. Capped tuition would be less radical but "far left." Public education up to grade 12 (17-18 y.o.) is free already.

4) Controls on types of weapons/ammo for purchase. More radical would be broader gun controls/bans.

5) Pathway for citizenship for existing people in the country (far left) versus sending them back, then re-applying. Also the amount of immigration. How to deal with illegals.

6) How much money goes to social welfare programs and/or conditions for those programs.

7) Taxation. If you want to raise it significantly (whether across the board or just for the highest earners) you would be far left. The higher you go...the more radical you would be.

8 ) Regulations. Same for environmental, energy, all types of manufacturing/business regulations. The more you want, the more radical you would be seen to be.

17 hours ago, farang51 said:

Shouldn't it be "December" instead of "January"? Otherwise, I need it explained.

Yee....you are right.   Was never good at telling jokes. So now I can add at writing them too. ????

Heard January 31st, 2019 at 2400 hours......

"Happy New Year". 

I just entered my wife.  I'll let her know her birthday holiday destination in a few days. 

Some good answers here....but the variables are too many to generalize. When confronted by a rude foreigner, or seeing it happen to others, I have sensed these reasons (in no particular order).

1) In the boondocks there seems to be greater suspicion toward the encountered foreigner. Maybe a feeling that they aren't special anymore.

2) Some react to the other's nationality without bothering to get to know the person.

3) Drunk, overly opinionated, or just a lousy attitude always. (Probably the only reason that can't be overcome with time)

4) Jealousy. Better money, house, woman/women, life, even looks.

5) "Class" issue, upbringing, blue collar/white collar, background differences.

I might be wrong but those seem to be the reasons I've witnessed or experienced. Although I keep to myself for the most part I'm not adverse to striking up a conversation with another foreigner I meet, knowing it will likely just be that one time I engage them. Often they have some valuable information to share or maybe a contact or two that will make your life a bit easier here. For the real <deleted> out there (and in here) there is not much we can do about them other than to ignore them. It's too bad though as we likely have more in common with each other than mr. somchai on the street. 

11 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

IMO the real threat is China, which is apparently being overlooked, perhaps for political reasons.

 

I'm not aware of anything that Russia has gained by trying to get Trump elected. I still remember Obama and the Russian president.

 

During the 2012 Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul, President Obama, in an exchange with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, stated: “On all these issues, but particularly missile defense, this can be solved, but it’s important for him [incoming Russian President Vladimir Putin] to give me space.” “This is my last election,” he continued. “After my election I have more flexibility.”

https://www.heritage.org/defense/report/open-microphone-whats-behind-president-obamas-missile-defense-comments

 

For sure, every country capable of influencing the election will be doing so, just as America has done to other countries.

I agree China is a bigger concern for the US....I was only addressing the "Russia Probe" discussion. Too easy to get passions riled up throwing too much into a comment.  ????

6 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

It only happened because Trump, IMO, chose the wrong guy to be attorney general. The biggest mistake Trump ever made as president, IMO, was not sacking Sessions the minute he recused himself.

4 years ago, a very good friend of mine and his wife (voted for Trump) told me that the only thing that really concerned him about Trump was his (unknown) ties to Russia, and that of many of his inner campaign circle. There was enough smoke there for him to be concerned so I can't call that a "Democrat" thing. We DO know of Russia's attempts to influence the elections in several countries and ofcourse their biggest prize would be the US. In many ways they have achieved that goal (whether they have leverage on Trump or not) since the US is more fractured than ever, with some even questioning the legitimacy of their Democracy, voting systems, and institutions.