fredwiggy

Like many other things that are in reality illegal here, officials allow it to happen because of the amount of corruption here. Human trafficking is a byproduct of prostitution and in Thailand it's huge, with some officials allowing it to continue, as the amount of continuous arrests show. Bending the laws here because of Thailand being a poor country will continue until the people allowing it to happen are removed from office, those involved in trafficking are incarcerated or executed, and the people are allowed to have more of a say in what happens here instead of being encouraged to shut up.

15 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Prostitution, i.e. paying for sex, is not illegal, certain specifics of the activity are, though.  

https://thailawonline.com/prostitution-laws-in-thailand/

31 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

Incorrect. 

 

These types of engines tend to operate in more severe conditions than gasoline engines, so the oil plays a crucial role in capturing and containing pollutants. This prevents the accumulation of sediment in the engine, improving its efficiency and, of course, prolonging its useful life.  

 

https://lubricants.repsol.com/en/news/como-afecta-aceite-de-coche-a-motor-diesel/

 

Diesel exhaust is incredibly toxic, and filthy, and there is no place for diesel cars in this day and age. 

 

The press releases state that in 2010, 223,000 deaths from lung cancer worldwide resulted from air pollution. An article on the Environmental Health News website (EHN is a non-profit, independent organization) states that an estimated 6% of lung cancer deaths in the US and in the UK may be due to diesel exhaust, according to a study released in November 2013.

 

https://www.acfa.org.sg/newsletters/clean-diesel-dirty-truth

He is right that a clean air filter reduces the black smoke in a diesel. Also using a higher Cetane in the fuel., along with clean injectors as said. All fuel based motors emit pollutants, so they should be eliminated eventually, as long as there are better alternatives like electric, when they are perfected. Burning of chaff and cigarettes are the ones that hurt most people here, especially in country living.

On 5/5/2024 at 3:23 AM, GammaGlobulin said:

Hi Folks,

 

And, let's get real.

 

Many of us have existed in Asia/SE-Asia for many years.

 

Some, have lived here for more years than they can even recall, being drunk out of their gourds or just slap-happy on some beach.

 

But, I ask you, now, about the air pollution problem which is NOT really Thailand's problem.

 

MUCH, in my opinion, of the air pollution, and the smoke, which wafts toward us here in Thailand, is NOT of our own making.

 

And so, I wonder if you have some unfounded notion that the air quality here in Chiang Mai might suddenly, and miraculously, improve, during your lifetimes?

 

It might.

 

or

 

It might not.

 

And, if the air quality remains, for the foreseeable future, roughly the same as it is now, or if it continues to deteriorate....then....

 

What plans have you considered in order to make your life here more healthy and pleasurable?

 

It seems to me that there is only one solution for the individual:

 

One needs to HARDEN one's Envelope against the Encroaching Pollution.

 

How do you plan to do this?

 

There are many strategies that you have probably already thought of.

And, what are these?

 

Do these include weather-stripping all cracks around your windows?

But, this is just the first line of defense.

 

How many more air purifiers do you anticipate importing/buying from China.

 

What else can one do to minimize the health risks of living in a region which is impacted by three contiguous SMOKING countries?

 

The smoke seems to be getting worse.

And, the heat also seems to be getting worse.

 

One might be a fool if one did not begin to think about how to....

HARDEN one's home against the manmade smoke and warming that will surely get worse during this next decade.

 

Right?

 

So, then, what is your personal strategy to protect your lungs, your heart, and your home?

 

Regards,

Gamma

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm not sure where you get the idea that it's not Thailand that is causing the problem, but it is all of Thailand's problem. China has many cities in the top world polluters and Thailand has2 in ther top 5.This isn't pollution drifting in from surrounding countries but started here. There are laws against burning and they are not enforced, just like many other laws  that are routinely broken here. I see burning almost daily, and not just in the fields but on roadsides and in people's yards. They think it's okay to burn anything because it's done so much here and nothing is done to enforce against it. I have to tell my girlfriend to stop burning trash and leaves, but instead use the leaves for fertilizer, but it usually falls on deaf ears for the same reasons. There are  ways to use the chaff from sugar cane and rice that other countries use and they know about them here but again, nothing is done. Air quality here will continue to get worse until they enforce the existing laws, meaning now.        .............https://www.iqair.com/th-en/world-air-quality-ranking

Looks like a centipede. A friend was hit by one and had to go to the hospital for treatment, meaning it either got infected or he was allergic to one. Hand swelled up almost twice it's size. Antibiotics stopped it. Ex wife's cousin also had one on her leg, and it swelled up big also. I was pinched on my forehead in bed by a little one but nothing but a bit of pain. Most times you can take care of it at home, unless there are more harsh symptoms as described below............https://www.medicinenet.com/what_happens_if_you_get_bitten_by_a_centipede/article.htm

51 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

It's not about low levels of alc and not about other people. It's just to point out that you should not drive under influence of alc. I'm very sure in your home country they wouldn't smile if you caused an accident, by saying you got only low level of alc? 

What makes you think that in Thailand it doesn't matter?😳

By the amount of daily accidents and deaths involving drunken drivers, that this has been going on for decades, that nothing is really much done about it, as the laws are on the book but not enforced like they should be. In Texas alone, first offense can be a fine of up to $2000 USD, plus up to 180 days in jail. Of course most get less but always a fine. Second offense minimum of 4 days in jail , maximum one year in jail plus probation, third offense up to 10 years in jail, or a year if probation is given, and a fine of up to $10,000 USD, and it will be a felony conviction, and all types of varying degrees of punishment, but punishment is given all the time, and severe enough to stop some or keep them off the roads awhile.

On 4/24/2024 at 8:15 PM, TheFatOne said:

I'd like to make millions on the stock market to then go around helping random needy people.

I could do that all my life. Giving is actually the most gratifying activity there is for a narcissist like me.

Makes me feel like a superstar 😄

 

Anyways. Your turn.

 

If giving is the most gratifying thing to you, you aren't quite the narcissist you believe you are. All of us have slight narcissistic tendencies, but some have the personality, and they aren't givers but takers and users, not caring about anyone besides themselves.

Traveling the world hunting and fishing and seeing all my children end up with good partners.

12 hours ago, n00dle said:

Walking around Thailand brandishing a gun -- even a plastic pellet shooting replica -- at soi dogs is downright idiotic. 

You don't brandish the gun, you wear it under your shirt, and this isn't a bad idea. They aren't illegal, and won't scare others thinking it's a real gun.

Soi dogs can be bribed with food, although some are plain mean and will attack anything in their territory. I see this around my house in the country where dogs have killed any cats I bring here that stay outside. Having biscuits handy will make a few friends and dogs will remember you but again this won't always work.

A baseball bat isn't illegal either , if you can get one. A cop isn't going to give you a hard time if you explain yourself. A dog that attacks anyone isn't supposed to be around anyway, unless it's on it's home property and you enter. One of the horns people use at sporting events also will deter them.

11 hours ago, EVENKEEL said:

Are you still miffed because I said I spend more than 3k/mo on 7-11? And yes I do buy eggs, milk, bread and sometimes butter  at 7-11.

 

What is my monthly food bill? I haven't a clue. I hit Makro usually when I'm low on coffee and it's easy to spend 10K stocking up on snacks,  cheese, butter, olive oils plus soaps. I like to eat salmon and chicken. Sometimes I'll hit out local expat store for some good Aussie beef and their Thai minced beef isn't bad. We don't do food courts at the malls. Instead I prefer to spend money at their nice buffet restaurants. Last night I sent the ole lady out for food and she came back with steamed rice and boiled chicken for me wrapped in paper 40thb. and mango and sticky rice. Tomorrow maybe I'll cook at home. 

 

I don't have a budget. I know if I pay a 20K baht purchase like tires for the car I'll have to watch the spending a bit more careful. Guess you're just having a bad day. Sorry to hear it. 

No, just tired of hearing people brag because something's missing in their lives. It's always best to be humble because showing off only impresses the sheep. I know a lot of people who do better than most and they aren't feeling the need to tell others.If it was a topic on how much a person spends on food monthly it's a little different. There are some here, and we all know who they are, who feel the need to tell others just how much they have, and this is bragging. How they came into the money might be an interesting story also. Many of them are probably lying anyway which is sadder yet. This is a world in which most people are just getting by, and any advice on how to help others is always a good thing. Do you think anyone in their right minds cares how much the Kardashians make, let alone how they make it?

8 minutes ago, G_Money said:

Bottom line is if someone wants to post how much they spend and it’s more than you spend or have available to spend they have every right to as much as the guy scraping by on his sole Social Security income who posts his frugal lifestyle has.

 

Nothing to do with bragging.

We are not all equals in the financial sense.

 

 

 

Of course we are not equals, but it's still bragging showing off what you have. You think anyone cares to hear?

2 minutes ago, G_Money said:

Of course!  Like yourself I’m assuming.

 

Slight difference in tone from your previous posts.

 

 

I really don't assume much, preferring facts and evidence, so I'm not sure what you mean.

4 minutes ago, Mike Teavee said:

We eat >95% of our meals at home (GF is an excellent cook) & my grocery bill is approx. 30,000 THB PM (No alcohol included) for the 2 of us, mainly due to my foibles when it comes to eating (I don't eat Chicken or Fish which are cheap here & will only eat high quality meat so no Thai beef & only eat lean pork which is approx. 360 THB per KG) + my love of Cheese, Butter & Korean/Japanese spices doesn't help, but also because she loves Chicken, Fish & Seafood so will often cook 2 completely different meals. 

 

NB. I don't dispute that you can eat out or at home very cheaply in Thailand but it's not something that I would want to do, & would rather give up other things (e.g. rent a cheaper condo, socialise, go on holiday less etc...) before I went down that road & turned vegetarian (Cos I still wouldn't eating Chicken, Fish or cheap Thai meats). 

 

 

 

A large portion of Americans don't spend that much on food every month, and that includes children. Cheese costs here, as does foreign beef, which is much better than Thai beef. Cooking two meals a day does cost more, but I still can't see paying that much if most of it is cooking at home. If I remember right, when I lived back in Texas I ate like you did, with fish, chicken and seafood, salads daily, for my daughter and I, and I spent around half of what you do now.

13 minutes ago, G_Money said:

So a person who has to be frugal and claims how cheap they can live on live on their limited means is considered good advice.

 

Yet someone who posts a lifestyle which requires more income is bragging and showing off.

 

GOT IT!

 

What remains consistent is the have nots will always have contempt for the haves.  

Some of the people who do have more and don't find a need to brag about it are called humble, modest, frugal and a quiet achiever.

3 minutes ago, Celsius said:

My wife makes 80,000 and blows around 100,000 a month.

 

And she is a Thai citizen.

Danger Will Robinson!!

18 minutes ago, G_Money said:

Why not.  People love to talk about what they don’t spend.  How little they get by on etc.

 

 

 

There's a difference in relating good advice on how a person with limited means can be frugal and get by, and one bragging to others just to show off. Easy to decipher between the two

Just now, G_Money said:

Social Security amounts will be different amounts for different people depending on how much and long they contribute.

 

It is not meant to be one’s sole means of income during retirement despite it is for some.

 

If that’s all one has, their life’s homework is incomplete IMO.

Some people, millions in fact, bust their asses for decades just to get by, while people who sit behind a desk and move money around get wealthy doing a job that isn't helping anyone besides themselves and other rich ones. Some might not be able to work after age 65 because of health problems. Living here, most cannot work anyway because of legal requirements. Back in the US, it's very hard for a retired person to get a decent job, most being taken by the younger set. Yes, there are quite a few who are criminals that have money to burn, who've had jobs that hurt the earth or others, but I'm talking about the normal everyday worker. Social Security is all many have to get by on for many reasons.

Thought I had it a few years ago while visiting Hua Hin with the ex and daughters. Went to a local doctor and told him my symptoms, telling him I thought it might be H Pylori. He agreed, gave me a prescription for antacids and antibiotics, cleared up in two days. I think I might have had it while living in Texas, and maybe again after this one episode, but without checking you can't tell. In hindsight, the doctor actually should have given me a breath test .

Much of the world's population has it or had it, and kissing another is one way to catch it, along with other things mentioned. Many people carry it with no problems, or they might come later, as Sheryl posted. I've had some stomach issues since I moved here and since I've always eaten very healthy, I couldn't figure out what I had besides a guess at IBS, because of the symptoms. I started eating the Brat diet more, Bananas, rice, Applesauce and toast, without the applesauce, because I can't find it here. This helped and when I started on collagen, it got much better, although still have symptoms, but a lot less. Without a gastro doctor, all you can do is process of elimination.

9 minutes ago, EVENKEEL said:

I spend more than 3k on bs from 7 11. Had lunch yesterday at Shabu. Platinum 600 bht each for 3. 1922 thb. Dinner takeout 500thb.

Why would one brag about how much they spend? Does it impress anyone perhaps? Spending 3000 baht a month at 7-11 means a whole lot of junk food, unless you do much of your shopping for oil, bread, water, fish sauce and other sundries besides doing it at Lotus or Big-C. Anyone who lives here knows they can get good, healthy food for under 300 baht at most restaurants without getting extravagant for some reason besides to show off. I'm guessing you don't understand that when a foreigner shows off burning his money, it makes the Thais around him think unrealistically about all foreigners, we're all rich and have money to burn, which isn't true for over 90% of the expats.

16 minutes ago, bkk6060 said:

False.

 

What Is the Average Retirement Income? The average monthly retirement income adjusted for inflation in 2023 is $4,381.25, according to a 2022 U.S. Census Bureau report. The average annual income for adults 65 and older in 2023 is $75,254 – or $83,085 when adjusted for inflation.Mar 21, 2566 BE

 

 

 

Average Social Security check by type

While most people think of Social Security as a program just for retirees, it serves many other groups, including the disabled, spouses and minor children of retirees as well as the spouses and minor children of deceased workers.

The amount that each group receives differs substantially.

In fact, the average retired worker receives $1,905.31 each month – about 8 percent more than Social Security recipients as a whole. Here’s how the figures break down by recipient, as of December 2023.

3 minutes ago, bkk6060 said:

At least 100 k or about $3,000 a month.

If a person is older and retired and does not have $3,000 a month they have failed in their financial life in my opinion.  Probably wasted it all away or got 3 or 4 divorces.  Look in the mirror for the failure.

Research how much retirees have in the US. People who have had children spend a lot of their money raising them. if you never had kids, you cannot understand what it takes. The average,from looking around a bit, retirement in the US is $1781 a month, which means many get less. This is what their jobs set aside for them while working. We can't look at the developers, money movers or other jobs that hurt the earth or others because this isn't the normal workers. There are millions of useful jobs that don't pay much, and people need these jobs, as do all of us in some way, to survive. Many people have had decent jobs and have a good pension or retirement, but many do not.

His lawyer was also involved in threatening the mother? I know lawyers will do a lot to get their clients off, but I've never heard of going this far. Also what makes this sound suspicious is this.............According to reports on several Thai media outlets, Narin was also one of the suspects in the unsolved murder case of a three year old girl named Chompoo in the Mukdaharn province.

Just now, fredwiggy said:

The reason I commented was this you said, If you can qualify for a retirement visa, then no prob, all are welcome, and you should be able to afford a nice retirement.   But if only 35k a month, staying here illegally, with no oops fund ... STAY HOME.............. Why be their police? Everyone knows the deal. The problems here aren't about money but about people hitting others, raping women, driving drunk, making a scene for nothing, working, taking a locals possible job, or being involved in drug dealing or organized crime. Time spent on those and not on minor things would make life easier for all of us. And trumps not getting in, unless Americans have all lost their minds.