Donga

White Man's burden eh and Donald the lousy businessman (read he was bankrupt) . Will grant you, his Covid comments were bizarre. Days of White man colonialism, you racist or something? What's wrong with colonialism before Whitey got big ships? Ignore the Silk Road over eons. And what was Africa then my friend, Paradise on Earth, no wars, no slavery? Hear the women had it good. Sounds like that chip on your shoulder, weighing you down. You drink the Dem Kool-Aid about dangerous Trump, after his first term was clearly more palatable for voters than Biden. And funny how Trump triumphed this time with swings from Black (am I allowed to say that now) and Hispanics or were they conned, or just plain dumb. Got any idea why the Dems and in turmoil or you have the insight of a rock. I was no fan of Trump the first time, and had reservations this time, but Haha Harris with all the celebrities lining up, her many policy switches and otherwise lack of coherency, shone through as the campaign went on. Crystallized things that have broken in the US. Trump's not even in office and being taken seriously today by Putin and Zelensky. I used to think he was dumb, but have heard him speak on a range of topics sans teleprompter, hold 2 hours conversations, where Biden and Harris would struggle with 5 minutes. Left wing politicians have degenerated to symbolism like DEI, BLM, #MeToo, Net Zero, Free Palestine while we need more nuanced analysis and practical solutions. The righteous, deceptive MSM are losing relevance as they overstretched on so many issues. I hope Trump doesn't disappoint, along with Meloni, Milei and Poilievre, as we could well be on the path to a more sensible decade.

Europeans have taken him seriously to hastily arrange meetings to see how they can increase their defense spending Canadians have taken him seriously and are working on how to reduce illegal immigration and deal with Trump economically Middle East take him seriously in Syria, Lebanon while Iran wish they had earlier. Hamas just a lost, sick cause. Trump had good relations with moderate, adult ME countries and they'll work with him much closer than they did with B b b Biden. Mexicans take him seriously and are now clamping down on drug control into the US as well as illegal immigration. Trump sends out extreme messages to make his point, like Climate Change alarmists over the years, and people been taking them seriously. Heck, we know what caused those LA fires don't we. Difference is Trump has more control over his extreme utterances and is in a position to exceed expectations - he won't invade Greenland, Canada or Panama, democracy will prevail in the US, woke trends including contempt for Western civilisation will wither, US economy will be stronger and swinging voters will ultimately be glad they rejected Haha Harris.

Political interference, arising from media activities? Poor luvvies, having to deal with alternative views from mainstream media - not fair is it?

Thanks Patong - As stated, the studies tend to exaggerate the harmful ingredients, and if you look around the websites of the manufacturers the most alarming substances are not used now. Agree they should be tightly regulated and the FDA leads in this regard.. https://www.fda.gov/tobacco-products/products-ingredients-components/e-cigarettes-vapes-and-other-electronic-nicotine-delivery-systems-ends This recent paper explains the benefits and risks of vaping... https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2024/feb/most-smokers-wrongly-believe-vaping-least-harmful-smoking and fair to say the media has fallen into line with the anti-vape sentiment. No walking away from fact that nicotine is certainly addictive, and at a high dosage is harmful. As is alcohol. Every effort should be made to keep the under aged from access. I stand by my view that vapes, being free of carcinogenic tobacco, are less harmful than cigarettes and have their place in a well regulated system.

They haven't got enough convincing data yet. But they could raise scare campaigns I suppose. There are studies that purport to show harm, but they are rather spurious in their findings, e.g. talk about ingredients that are no longer used in their manufacture. Then there's the red herring about Big Tobacco when most of them are made by Chinese or other Asian companies. There are respiratory concerns and people with asthma probably shouldn't partake, but then if they're smoking cigarettes, whose to say which is worse for them? There are UK studies that show cigarettes smokers are better off switching to vapes. From UK Cancer Society... There is no good evidence that vaping causes cancer. But e-cigarettes are not risk-free. They can cause side effects such as throat and mouth irritation, headache, cough and feeling sick. These side effects tend to reduce over time with continued use. No doubt they shouldn't be marketed or available to children or teens and suggest in countries where alcohol is controlled fairly well in bottle shops, that the same to apply for vapes. My path would be to have them available, regulated and taxed.

Yep, true to form and they just keep fueling the fires of cynicism of middle America towards the increasingly out of touch Left. The timing, haha The relevancy, nada as Trump can undo where it makes sense The Left these days talk and act to their hard core, without understanding the wishes of ordinary folk, again and again. Deluded, woke clowns.

That's how News has always been and getting worse. The incidence is probably decreasing per capita, but the coverage increases.

On Gaza and West Bank, Al-Jazeera been presenting distortions and big holes in their coverage. Yet to see their expose on Hamas use of human shields, role of UNRWA in harbouring Hamas infrastructure. Pity its taken PA so long to act. But hey, if you want to lead Palestine, you have to join the moderates of the region at some time.

Anyone who thinks that Putin is clever is misguided. Biden said from the onset, that Russia would pay a heavy price for their Ukraine war and they are. Their foreign relations have suffered, the economy is in dire straits and Russians are beginning to challenge the exercise. I'm not a fan of Biden, but perhaps his drip feeding of weapons for Ukraine has sucked Russia into a modern day reversal of their previous Russian military strategies against Napoleon and Hitler. Be interesting to see what the Trump administration does.

Are you rabid folk unable to distinguish between illegal immigrants vs ones that the country wants, mostly skill based? Or are you that stooped in your anti-Trump zeal that you blithely ignore? There's a big difference between the migration policies of Australia and Germany, and not difficult to see which path Trump will take. And so he's learnt some home truths from Musk, so? Is that such a crime? Pity Biden didn't learn on his watch.

Early seventies and stay active with early fifties wife, whose Dad is 97 and she wants me to stick around. Little niggles kept at bay with running, exercising, yoga, diet and drink less than before. Still enjoy travelling and like to keep abreast of what's going on around the world. Wanna outlive Putin and Xi Jinping, see how the world is in 20 years time. Getting older in Thailand be much better than the West - couldn't do an old folks home, let alone the Woke and other values.

Forget the Messenger. What aspects due you disagree with and why? Cos it's only the beginning of the dial moving away from soft Left policies, where they're losing their traditional base.

Bit like in Oz - what the Yes referendum luvvies thought of the No voters - either misinformed or racist. Vast majority were neither. Just wide awake to the inane righteous narrative from the inner cities and activists, backed by most media, gullible big business and celebrities. Similar to the recent US election. Trump is a narcissistic, unpleasant chap in much of what he says, but he's not dumb. He'll be a short snippet showman, doesn't care what mainstream media thinks as he realises that to his target audience and swinging voters they are largely distrusted and irrelevant. In long interviews he displays a good understanding of what ails the US. The country needs industry humming again, and a dramatic overhaul of some of their institutions. 92% Dem vote in DC says a lot, is unhealthy and it manifests with overzealous regulations and soft Left leanings in academia, judiciary as well as environment. Ditto Canberra. What's more, key leaders around the world, particularly in the Middles East and Europe, either respect him, fear him or both - especially compared to Biden and shudder to think how laughing hyena, Harris would have gone down with the likes of Putin and Xi Jinping. Trump also doesn't like his people having to go to war, which is a refreshing change.

Haven't you contradicted yourself, connda with "Basically most Westerners are cultural racists who feel superior to all others on this planet." followed later with "I was raised to look at people as individuals based on their merit, not as part of the national identify of their country of birth." Just saying, take care of being judgemental and righteous at the same time.

In the Isaan village my wife comes from, the divorced ladies who look for a partner, say on Thai Friendly are drawn to farang and I've seen that in other instances, e.g. those of that generation with better education, or outside Isaan, also more comfortable with farang. The generation below are more open to Korean, Chinese partners. For what that's worth. Are farang any "better"? Not really, though probably more inquisitive, more traveled, less rigid socially as there are many farang nationalities. So Brits get on with Aussies, who get on with Kiwis and the Europeans get on with everyone as well. I just think the Indians, Chinese, Russians, Arabs etc are generally more insular by comparison. The Russians I've come across have been fine, though I don't live in Phuket or Pattaya, and don't see them as socially mobile as most Europeans. As far as behaviours, I believe the Japanese are the most consistently mild mannered, with very few Yakuza amongst them haha. In Indonesia they mixed more with Thais than your average farang. Not sure about here as don't come across many. Outrageous behaviour can come from any nationality. Don't think I'm racist as such, but warm to other farang more than other racial groups and have a particular disdain with women walking around in the heat with their bodies covered from head to toe, and even their faces sometimes. Just can't get my arms around that but the Middle East is one of few regions I haven't lived in, but was very comfortable in Indonesia and Moslem northern Nigeria. How do Thais generally see the different groups? There seems to be legacy bias against Indians, Arabs and to an extent Chinese, but maybe watered down with the younger generations. And anyway, Thais really are very tolerant, so the needle probably doesn't move that much, other than their personal experiences.

How about the Thai Police, who often a drubbing on this site? No posts yet, about the pricks not paying them enough 🤗 Well done Thai coppers!

Yes, but he his hardly a fit person to be an objective Professor teaching on Zionism. His comments are evidence of that. This biased scourge permeates our Arts faculties in the Anglosphere and needs to be recognised and addressed.

Simply disgusting and heads should roll 😡 Until Moslems and the left wing luvvies recognise that the extreme factions of Islam are holding back Peace and improved livelihoods in the Middle East, they'll continue to kill each other, as well as Jews, Christians, amongst others. Look at Indonesia, with the most populated Moslem society for guidance. Pancasila establishes their philosophic basis of five principles and for religions to co-exist in harmony. Not Jihadism as the extremists live by and the moderates and luvvies turn a blind eye to.

Guessed this would have been from The Guardian, CNN or one pf those like minded pathetic purveyors of left wing fantasy. Harris running for President has as much chance as Trudeau or Scholz being re-elected. The games over for the Left that went to far on themes like energy, immigration and identity politics. So that leaves Harris to stay in California - that bankrupt, woke ridden bastion of Left wing lunacy.

These guys aren't the swamp, more like the doers. The swamp is reflected by the 92% of DC voters abiding by Biden 😜 The bloated bureaucrats, lawyers, lobbyists, NGOs, regulatory bodies, DOJ & Environment zealots, etc etc. 92% is unreal, unhealthy no matter what side of the political divide you're on. Trump will take a hacksaw to this malignant rump and give the Americans more freedom in many ways. Already seeing the progress in Italy and Argentina, next Germany, then Canada. Finally the Western world is waking up.

Apologies, as I clearly misread your post.

Deliberate and sustained mass killing of innocents, what's yours? How do you reconcile IDF repeatedly directing residents to move out of harms way, after Hamas have deliberately placed them there?

What I find galling is the same people who lament IDF forcing residents away from nominated target areas, with media pictures of their distress from having to move again, can then turn around and broadcast the G word. Want it both ways. These folk either have no shame or just don't see how inane their claim is. And blithely ignore Hamas deliberately placing weapons and military infrastructure in those civilian areas, requiring IDF to get the residents to move to safety. The Irish have an axe to grind over their history of oppression but unable to see the differences between Ireland and Gaza.

Atrocities is a very broad term in conflict. Israel has warned residents repeatedly to move before they strike Hamas has been known to try stop Gazans from moving to safety Israel have brought in thousands of trucks of food, which Hamas has often pilfered Hamas on the other hand deliberately place their munitions and command centres around schools, hospitals and mosques They also keep munitions in refugee camps, which has caused explosions when the IDF have struck Hamas operatives They've built a network of tunnels to link up with civilian institutions Their missiles are known to misfire causing random deaths of Gazans, like the one at a hospital parking lot, killing originally reported as 500 people when deemed to be Israeli, but reduced to 80 after it was proven it was not an Israeli missile Hamas won't release the hostages, after barbarically murdering 1200 people, including 39 Thais and host of other nationalities Hamas is a jihadist terrorist organisation that needs to be decimated before a two nation settlement can be reached.

You're kidding aren't you. I mean Al Jazeera news, the ones with journalists who are Hamas... https://honestreporting.com/journalists-with-hamas-ties-a-running-list-of-honestreportings-top-exposures-since-oct-7/ If you want objective news of the Middle East try Al-Monitor funded by an Arab-American... https://www.al-monitor.com/ they are very well regarded... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Monitor