fredwiggy

Dad used to be a ham operator. I remember him in the basement calling out to people all over and being in wonder that he could talk back then, 1965-1974, to people all over the world on a radio he built himself. Still have his call letters, K2BVO. King 2 ,Baker, Victor, Ocean. Kilowatt 2, B for Baker, V-Victoria ,O - Ocean. heard them so many times you couldn't forget.

I missed it for 4 years while living here and fighting with my ex over her insanity regarding my daughter. I went back last year to visit and as soon as I was there the first day, I was home. Going back this fall again. I don't kill Bambi. I'm after his father.

I'm a deer hunter, specifically whitetail deer, and they are only native to North America, Mexico and Canada. Laos is mainly hog hunting, and I can do that in Texas anywhere. They are considered pests. Laos has the same fishing as Thailand. It's good for some big Catfish ,Carp, and a few others, but not what I'm really into. I'm done here, and have been for quite awhile. Thailand has a lot of pretty places, and nice beaches, but I can get that back home, although the beaches aren't near as pretty as here. The fishing here is heavily netted and unregulated for the most part. there is little conservation besides the national parks, and fish can only get bigger if you let them grow, and leave their bait alone. Here they eat the bait.

Expensive yes, but has all you could ever want as far as hobbies and interests, and food from everywhere. I'd rather just get by in a place I belong, then have more in a place I don't want to be.

Freedom has it's problems as said. Some policemen go too far, and should be held accountable. Like here with the water cannons and such against protestors wanting democracy. I'm against developers also, and protesting is a right to try and stop the rich who have money and power, and sometimes the law, on their side. No easy answer when money is involved. It rules over common sense and nature.

That's what freedom does. It allows morons to act like morons, and weak minded followers. It also allows you to say most anything you want about politicians and the police without worrying you might be incarcerated or disappear. To oust elected officials if they do wrong, and to elect new ones if they fail to live up to their promises. That's freedom , which is unlike being suppressed by rich, power hungry narcissists. Racism is everywhere.

Actually America has millions of small, lean gorgeous women. More are fat yes, but that's also the same most everywhere. Thailand's women are steadily getting bigger, and as they age, a lot get bigger, especially if they stop working on the farm and continue to drink sugary drinks and eat large quantities of rice.

Servicing customers isn't sweeping the floors. In the case of a minor, it's illegal and possibly involves human trafficking. Doesn't say it was her daughter, as far as I can see.

He's actually pretty right on as far as good brands are concerned. Not a big hot dog eater but I would like to try the suggestions here. I've had NYC hot dogs, which are still the best I've ever tasted, and Chicago style, equal but different. When you go to NYC, and try a hot dog there, as well as the pizza, Jewish deli sandwiches and pretzels, you know you're at the top as far as those kinds of foods are concerned.

Please don't assume I am stupid, thinking I am putting the USA and Thailand into the same category as the UK. I just responded to what you said about the UK. Gun crime is everywhere. More in some places than others. It's not just a matter of low intelligence and lack of self control. It's a mental illness that makes some go haywire with guns, and that can happen anywhere, as mental illnesses have no borders.

You need to live where you feel the most comfortable, and can enjoy what hobbies you might have. I live in deep south Sisaket province, not too far from Cambodia. It's very quiet and there is no crime besides some idiot farmer that keeps killing our village's dogs. I have been here over 5 years and absolutely hate it now. I had a falling out with my now ex wife but I still live in the house I had built. The main problem is, I can't do my two most important hobbies here. Hunting and fishing. Hunting isn't allowed, nor has species I would consider hunting anyway. There is good catfishing and carp in Thailand, but mainly in private or pay and fish lakes, none of which are nearby that have fish of any size. There is Sirindhorn reservoir near Ubon that I'm sure has good fishing because of it's sheer size and inability to be netted, which is the main reason lakes here are void of large fish. I like Bass and Pike family fishing, and the only bass in Asia are in Japan. This is what makes this place so boring. I'm not a heavy drinker, and not a bar person, so that's not a possibility. I would like to live back in the States in an area like I'm in now. Close to a major city, so I can have restaurants and a gym, but far enough out to have a peaceful location. This is why I will move back asap with my daughter. Thai food is great, but I had that back in Texas and it rivaled any here, because the restaurants I went to were owned by Thais that moved there. Austin and San Antonio have Asian markets that have just about every Asian food you can get here. Driving where I live is relatively safe until you leave the village. Then it's as bad as anywhere in Thailand besides Bangkok, where I've never seen such idiocy, even when I worked in NYC. No comparison. Many come here to escape the cities in other countries where they're from, and if they are happy with that, that's good. The older you get, the more you have to keep busy doing things, especially things you've always liked. Getting stagnant makes you older. And having people you can relate to, as in other foreigners is always a good thing, unless you are anti social and just want to be left alone, which again brings stagnation.

Anyone with a winning ticket can claim it at any place that accepts them. Misinformed people are all around Thailand. People here hear things from other misinformed, uneducated or prejudiced people and think they are valid. If someone in a bank says you can't cash the ticket, ask to see their superiors, and have the facts spelled out and shown to them by a google search OR, just go to another bank.

Actually gun use for defense, saving lives, protecting property etc, happens hundreds of thousands of times. Your opinion, as those of others who don't fully understand, is wrong. Guns will always be available to criminals, and the police can only be around a fraction of the time, so citizens are allowed to defend themselves or their property legally. If all guns were destroyed, that would be a different matter entirely, but since the police and military need them to protect citizens, guns will always be around, and will they will fall into the criminals hands. Shooting occur daily here in Thailand, and mass shootings have been happening, and will continue, from guns legally owned by disturbed policemen and military members, and by the general public with illegal weapons. Gun crime here is very high, although many don't think so. People might not feel the need to carry guns in the UK, but gun crime there has been increasing, so some are getting their hands on them.

He's not but I am, and I agree with what he said. Granted, there are many who carry guns because they are looking for trouble, but many more who do to protect themselves or their families from the former. Many lives have been saved by citizens carrying guns. Those that are looking to hurt,rob or kill aren't going by the rules, while legitimate gun owners are, and they're not the ones committing crimes but preventing some.

Wondering where he gets his information from. The uneducated make guesses based on being told something by other uneducated people.

Everyone deals with narcissists, prejudiced, crooked officials, and developers. Look around. Surrounding yourself with those not toxic is very hard, although a good idea, because they are everywhere, unless of course you don't leave your home. Then, you see them here. And it's not only in the past, but almost daily. Most of us aren't rich and live on an island almost by ourselves, with all good friends around us. When the good eliminates the bad, life on earth will improve. For now, it's tolerable. Because there is good here.

I only bash those that deserve it. Prejudiced, narcissists, crooked police and politicians, land developers that destroy nature and rape the earth for profit, and it's not moaning.

Guess you don't get out much, and living here for many years doesn't mean you do. A lot of foreigners never leave their villages and let their wives shop. Yes, most expats here are old. That's because you can retire here and find a woman younger than you can back home that will marry you. Most want money of course, so it's a trade off. If both are happy and faithful to each other, no problem. Many expats here marry very pretty women, and I've seen that a hundred times since I've been here. I did, although she is a narcissist and unstable., and I had to divorce her. She is pretty though. She was as clean as any woman I've ever known. Thai guys don't just reject. They aren't held accountable for having children, which is the court's fault, so they just go to another clueless girl after the baby comes. Many expats do marry bar girls, and when the sh*t hits the fan, they don't understand what happened. Like I said, I didn't marry a bar girl, and the sh*t still hit the fan. Disturbed comes in many disguises. As far as being bald, that happens to millions, and to many, intentionally, and isn't a character fault. Most of the foreigners I've seen here are average to tall, so short still is in the minority like everywhere else. Many are fat, but many just have a pot belly because of drinking. As far as money, whet I've seen is that most are on retirement, and that's not being broke. I can only speak of foreigners I know, and the same goes for you. Many are nice guys, and some are quiet, and don't talk much. Doesn't mean they have no personality. No matter how long you're been here, you really only know a small fraction of what's here. It would be impossible to do otherwise. The worst thing I hate about Thailand is the prejudice, and that doesn't only come from Thais, as I can see.

Traveling has always been something I want to do, and Europe is on my bucket list, along with Vietnam, Australia (To catch a marlin),back to Canada hunting and fishing and more. It will be harder now, though not impossible, but she comes first.

No, it isn't, and being drunk isn't an excuse but it explains the behavior because intoxicated people do things without rational thinking much of the time. Neither is it honorable to kick someone while they're on the ground, and that has been the crux of this whole topic, with many smart and also inane replies. No one in their right minds does this. If you are hit by someone, the normal reaction is to hit back, unless you are a hired bouncer. Then it's your job to get them out of the bar and on their way. Not take it personally and continue the onslaught after you have knocked them down, where they most likely would have stayed or just walked off. This is typical behavior here and many people get hurt when one to five attack them, usually kicking because they can't use fists, and many times using sticks or worse. Supporting this kind of behavior increase the likelihood it will continue.

People should or shouldn't have children at any age. What makes a parent isn't starting young or old. It's being able to raise that child as long as you're alive, until they leave the house, with love, patience and discipline. I'm 67 in 2 weeks, and have a daughter that's almost 7. I'm very healthy and strong for my age, and have already raised 4 more, mostly myself, that are adults now. Of course I hope to live to see her out and independent, but there's no guarantees. Not at any ages. Many people have children still young and don't take the time to raise them, but leave them with relatives and rarely see them. All depends on the person.

Guess you never lived there , or are concentrating on the few while millions of more incidents end safely.

And if the policeman misses and kills a child standing behind him? What kind of mind thinks a policeman can draw his weapon because someone has a skateboard in his hand? If you can't handle this kind of situation, get a job at McDonalds and leave the tough work for those capable. Police in the US , besides the few imbeciles that are power hungry or prejudiced, would have tackled this moron and had him cuffed in seconds.

Age of consent in Thailand is 15. Too young yes, but is what it is

Very good exercise, and who's against exercise but those that don't do it? Adults play badminton, a game usually thought of as a child's game.