mikebike

On 12/2/2024 at 3:52 PM, Social Media said:

 

President-elect Donald Trump has fiercely criticized President Joe Biden's decision to pardon his son, Hunter Biden, who faced potential prison sentences for federal felony gun and tax convictions. In a post on Truth Social on Sunday, Trump lambasted the move, calling it a "miscarriage of justice" and questioned whether the pardon extended to the Jan. 6 Capitol rioters.  

 

"Does the Pardon given by Joe to Hunter include the J-6 Hostages, who have now been imprisoned for years? Such an abuse and miscarriage of Justice!" Trump wrote, drawing a comparison between Hunter Biden’s pardon and the treatment of those incarcerated for their roles in the Capitol attack.  

 

Trump's reaction highlights a significant shift in his stance. Months earlier, during an October interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt, Trump had entertained the notion of pardoning Hunter Biden himself, should he return to the White House. While Trump denounced Hunter as a "bad boy," citing allegations linked to the infamous "laptop from hell," he expressed reservations about the broader implications for the country. "Despite what they’ve done to me... I happen to think it’s very bad for our country," Trump remarked, signaling that a pardon might be in the national interest to quell political discord.  

 

 

President Biden’s pardon spares Hunter significant prison time related to two federal cases brought by Special Counsel David Weiss. Over the summer, Hunter was convicted on three felony counts connected to his purchase and possession of a firearm while battling drug addiction. Later, in September, he agreed to plead guilty to nine tax-related charges, including three felonies, narrowly avoiding a contentious trial.  

 

Initially, President Biden had vehemently denied that he would intervene on his son’s behalf, emphasizing judicial independence. Yet, on the Sunday evening after Thanksgiving, in a low-profile announcement, Biden reversed course. In a statement, the president defended his decision, framing it as a response to relentless attacks on his son and their broader impact on him as a father.  

 

“There has been an effort to break Hunter - who has been five and a half years sober, even in the face of unrelenting attacks and selective prosecution,” Biden explained. “In trying to break Hunter, they’ve tried to break me - and there’s no reason to believe it will stop here. Enough is enough.”  

 

The move has reignited debates about justice and accountability, with critics arguing that the pardon demonstrates political favoritism and a rewriting of ethical norms. Supporters, however, view it as a necessary step to protect a family subjected to extraordinary scrutiny and personal attacks.  

 

As the nation grapples with the implications of Hunter Biden’s pardon, Trump’s criticism reflects the deep political divide over the issue, signaling that it will remain a contentious point in the months leading up to his own return to office.

 

Based on a report by the ABC News | BBC 2024-12-02

 

 

 

 

Funniest thing I've read today 😂😂🌞

YES! 100%

15 hours ago, Social Media said:

 

For over a year now, Canadians have witnessed a disturbing series of events that demand attention. Since the horrific terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas on October 7 last year, supporters of the group have openly expressed views and taken actions that should have sparked outrage across the nation.

 

Masked demonstrators in Montreal openly admit that they are part of Hamas and Hezbollah. “We are proudly saying that we are the resistance of Palestine and Lebanon in Montreal.”

 

From organizing vigils in Mississauga to commemorate slain Palestinian terrorist Yahya Sinwar—who was controversially compared to Nelson Mandela by the city’s mayor—to chanting anti-Semitic slogans, burning effigies of Jews, and physically assaulting members of the Jewish community, these actions have exposed a troubling undercurrent in Canadian society. Yet, outside of the Jewish community, there appears to be a lack of public outcry. 

 

The silence is not because Canadians condone such extremism or align with these radical acts. Instead, it seems rooted in a deeper societal issue: a pervasive culture of self-doubt and fear. Canadians, like many in the Western world, have been conditioned to view themselves through a lens of guilt and division, paralyzed by the fear of being labeled as intolerant or racist. In a society increasingly focused on historical injustices and systemic inequities, speaking out against extremism and hatred often feels risky. Even when protests include chants of "death to Canada" or display symbols associated with hatred, many Canadians remain silent, hesitant to challenge the narratives for fear of social repercussions.

 

 

This silence has grave implications. History has shown that unchecked antisemitism and extremism lead to the erosion of societal cohesion and the persecution of minority groups. The acceptance—or even passive tolerance—of actions and ideologies that undermine the principles of peace and coexistence is a clear warning sign of societal decay. Yet, the prevailing narrative discourages confronting such dangers, as Canadians have been made to believe that doing so might contradict their progressive values.

 

Despite these challenges, the stakes could not be higher. If Canadians hope to preserve the values and freedoms that define their country, they must overcome the paralysis of guilt and fear. They must find the courage to speak out against hatred and extremism, regardless of the potential backlash. The silence that has characterized much of the response to these recent events cannot be allowed to persist. Without action, the cherished ideals and opportunities that have long defined Canada may be lost for future generations.

 

Based on a report by National Post 2024-12-06

 

 

 

NP. What a load of... well ya know, Canada's Fox News.

On 12/3/2024 at 9:36 AM, jimmybcool said:

Way back i the dark ages when I first began visiting I accidentally overstayed like 15 days.  I was so ignorant I didn't even know there was a limit on my entry.  Duh.  Went to go thru immigration and got directed to the side.  Paid a fine and said sorry and left.  My guess is perhaps this guy mouthed off or tried to argue the fine.  Maybe he didn't think they could do anything but make him leave.  But there has to be more to this.

 

It ain't the dark ages anymore... 😉

My ev's manual clearly states middle of the wheel hub as max wadding. Do not all manufacturers provide this info?

On 2/23/2024 at 2:08 PM, Mike Lister said:

Bottom line appears to be 4.9 millions foreigners, of which, 112k are professional and skilled workers, 50k are special law workers and 150k are retired/married/living with Thai's.

 

In total, Western expats seem to total about 300k

I do not understand your assumption that professional, skilled, and special law workers are all western. India, Japan, Korea, China are all more than capable of supplying these types.

Who, exactly is the "far left". Personally I cannot name 1 American politician that is definitionally "far left". 🤔🤷 Y'all know words have real definitions, right?

7 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

With Russia STILL the world's second biggest oil exporter, where everything is paid in Benjamins, the rubles forex correction means absolutely nothing.

 

Despite the Nordstream outage and so-called embargos, Europe is still buying loads of Russian gas, it just comes the 'long way round' to get there. If not via southern Europe and Turkish pipelines, there's at least two, huge, Russian-owned but Hong Kong flagged, icebreaker-hulled LNG carriers traversing the Baltic to discharge gas into import pipelines in Zeebrugge. The Vladimir Rusanov departed there about ten days ago, and sailing back to Yamal for another load. Earlier this year, they started regular deliveries to Jiangsu in China.

 

One of the deals that was signed on the cusp of COP 29 in Baku was the 'rebranding' of Russian oil as Azerbajani oil so that the European importers can avoid those nasty sanctions for buying the stuff, something that India's Modi has absolutely no qualms about.

Let me hear you say the same when 47 tanks the USA economy 😂😂😂

15 hours ago, webfact said:

Picture courtesy: Novosti Phuketa

 

A British man was arrested on 27 November at Phuket International Airport for violating Section 81 of the Immigration Act (overstay). He had stayed in the country 130 days longer than permitted by the stamp in his passport.

 

The Immigration Bureau’s passport control unit at the international terminal reported the arrest. According to the report, the man was detained while undergoing departure control. It also mentioned that the 37-year-old British man insulted officials performing their duties.

 

After the arrest, he was taken to Sakhu Police Station to face formal charges under Section 81. While this section allows for imprisonment of up to two years, courts usually impose a fine of 500 baht per day (capped at 20,000 baht) and deportation. Until his deportation, the British man will be held at the Immigration Detention Centre (IDC).

 

Under the Good Guys In, Bad Guys Out policy, any arrest for overstaying carries an additional penalty: a re-entry ban of five years for overstays under a year or ten years for overstays exceeding a year, reported Novosti Phuketa.

 

-- 2024-11-29

 

 

He wasn't deported for insulting anyone. He was deported because he broke the law. End of .

2 hours ago, impulse said:

 

In an ideal world, I'd agree with you.  I'd also hope that voters wouldn't have elected such a vulnerable candidate had they known the laptop was real.

 

Once he was inaugurated, national security should have taken precedence, and he should have eliminated all the potential conflicts by pardoning Hunter.  That way, there would have been no risk he'd be compromised in any negotiation.

 

No. You learned the absolute WRONG lesson. He should not be allowed to pardon ANYONE. Much less his own son.

1 minute ago, JimmyTobacco said:

I suppose that if you are engaging in a discussion and you don't wish to explain yourself further if your discussion partner doesn't understand what you are implying, the discussion is basically over.

U are unravelling...

3 minutes ago, impulse said:

 

Biden should have pardoned Hunter on day one of his term, just to reduce the appearance of sitting across the negotiating table from adversarial world leaders that may have had evidence that could put his kid away for a loooong time.  It would have hurt him at the polls in 2024, but it would have been the right thing to do for national security. 

 

And 2024 took care of itself anyway.

 

BTW, I say that, not as a fan of Hunter or his antics.  But national security (and world peace) are bigger than one addict's penance.

 

No one should EVER receive a pardon except obviously innocent. Everyone, including the ruling elite, should be subject to the laws of the nation.

1 minute ago, JimmyTobacco said:

Well I gave you a possible and plausible explanation of what you said..

 

Blah, blah, blah, no you DID NOT. You demanded to be spoon fed, to not engage your own grey matter. It's not up to me to think FOR YOU. I'll toss out thoughts - you parse them. J.C. does this need to be said?

3 minutes ago, JimmyTobacco said:

You clearly didn't know what you meant either. Maybe you can ponder your own behavior for a while, writing absolute gibberish and then not wishing to explain yourself.

I 100 know what I  meant. Does everyone need to be spoon fed? Use ur effin brain for once.

4 minutes ago, novacova said:

I don’t really like grocery shopping but I like people, so I go just for the socializing aspect 

Wait a sec... Didn't u just say peeps WERE the problem 🤔🤷😂

5 minutes ago, cdemundo said:

I had a friend who was an MD who said the idea of an addictive personality seemed wrong to him.

He said that anyone who takes drugs is gonna find them pleasurable.

He was an endocrinologist and I don't think his specialty had much to do with his idea, also he was very straight arrow and never used illegal drugs.

 

I heard a radio disk jockey explain the same idea more succinctly; when asked why people became addicted to drugs

he said "Because drugs is good!".

Basics for life: ignore what ur neighbours are doing if they are good peeps. Diddle with them everyday if they are A holes 😉

2 minutes ago, novacova said:

People

Ok. I get that 🥰😅 me too, but, damn, I love grocery shopping 😂😂🤯

2 minutes ago, JimmyTobacco said:

Ok but you say that " One is the woman's choice, one is not". What do you mean with this?

I'll leave you to ponder that for a while... Let me know what you come up with 😅

2 minutes ago, JimmyTobacco said:

Well you seem to be saying that in my case, it is apparently not a woman's own choice that I won't take responsibility.

Am I correct?

No. I am saying your response had nothing to do with the post you responded to. You just had to get your feelings out, whether it had anything to do with what you were responding to or not 🤣

3 hours ago, Old Curmudgeon said:

 

It's a nice store to go into, but for on-line ordering and delivery, our dearly beloved Rim Ping market seems to NOT want our business.

 

They offer "free" delivery (over 1,000 baht order), but time spent on the phone trying to get what you want makes ordering for delivery from Rim Ping a big waste of time.

 

TOPS, LOTUS'S, Big-C, all have delivery and some farang groceries, but not much.
And quality of service from those three are, as expected, "Thai-style".
Missing items, wrong items -- similar color package, but wrong item -- common.
[Warning: If ordering something that comes in a variety of kinds -- like pasta -- from one of those, don't expect to actually receive what you thought you ordered.]

 

Instead, I order from Villa Market in Bangkok.
Big variety of farang foods.
Web-site easy to use.  
Delivery 2-3 days.
Everything packed securely in lots of bubble wrap.
Small order delivery to Chiang Mai only 125 baht.

 

Rainy season ... Flood season ... Air pollution season ... Chinese tourist season ...
Often I'd rather not venture out for routine groceries, not even to a nice store like Rim Ping.
So I order farang groceries from Villa Market in Bangkok, 700 km. away.
I can recommend their delivery service.

 

WTF are u afraid of? I LOVE grocery shopping 🥰

Just now, Ctkong said:

You are not mistaken in your observation. The unspoken truth in Thailand is that if you drive a luxury car be it a coupe, suv or sedan, traffic give way more often than not with the underlying belief that the driver is an influential person with powerful

friends who may create problem for you if anything untoward were to happen. 

moreover the maximum insurance payout of only a million baht may be insufficient if the accident involved luxury vehicles. 

Peeps definitely give way when I come rocketing thru with my old, decripid, hoopty... They don't care if it's 5 million baht or 5 baht 🤣🤣 WTF dude.

1 minute ago, JimmyTobacco said:

I'm not sure, but it's MY point? I am asking if he objects to any form of sperm donation, since sperm donors are also fathering a child without taking responsibility. In fact, in most case the mother doesn't want them to take responsibility.

Ok, sure. But nothing to do with the post u responded to 😅😅 One is the woman's choice, one is not.

D y'all not understand the difference between targeted deportations and general house cleaning of all immigrants?

5 minutes ago, JimmyTobacco said:

Who are you to say so, if I could legally do so within the limits of the law? In most western countries sperm donation is a completely normal procedure, which is available to lesbian couples, single mothers and coupled mothers who have trouble conceiving with their partner. Both through sperm banks and personal arrangements. Responsibilities can be waived with simple forms signed by both parties most of the time. Do you object to that as well?

Do you REALLY think THAT was his point? 🤔