Walker88

Part of the 'injury' is opportunity cost. trump's rate of interest should have been higher, since his assets were not worth what the bank utilized when setting his i rate. Same with insurers; their premium demand should have been higher. The income would have been higher. That is the 'injury'.

Having worked in major banks and major investment firms, I think you are painting far too bright a picture of how banks operate and assess loan applications. Perhaps you've heard of the subprime crisis that blew up in 2008? Certainly banks absolutely did not, and do not, get accurate appraisals as well as do thorough vetting of the borrowers ability to repay. If they did, Lehman, Countrywide, Bear Stearns, IndyMac, Wachovia and other financial institutions, or insurers like AMBAC wouldn't have gone belly up. Also, appraisal firms are not exactly always accurate nor honest. "What do you need it to be worth?" is part of many appraisal firms arsenal. Same with Rating Agencies like S&P or Moodys. Incentives like bonuses tend to affect loan applications and appraisals. Finally, in a loan application the potential borrower attests to the accuracy of statements 'to the best of his knowledge'. trump certainly knew the apartment he lived in was not 33,000 sf, but rather 10,997. He signed documents, however, claiming the inflated size, and hence value. Thus: Fraud

Are you this "Dan" guy? You seem quite invested in this thread, which makes me wonder if you are really Dan. As for your the subject, I am always a bit confused when it comes to sexual morality. Maybe when I'm older I'll be more clear. According to some---and I think you---it is immoral for a woman to be paid for sex, but absolutely okay if she has sex because she's horny. The goodness of one vs the other escapes me. Secondly, a guy who pays for it is a loser, but a guy who sleeps around---often giving women a false impression of genuine affection---is something between a stud muffin and the second coming of the messiah. Apparently we should all applaud him because "he's getting it for free". The "free" part is also a bit confusing. A guy whose real intent is just to bed a woman might take her to a fancy dinner on his dime, using the meal as the beginning act of seduction. He's paying, but just rationalizing. If he simply picks up a woman in a club and goes to his hotel or condo, or even a short time hotel, then he really isn't much of a stud because he is probably her thousandth partner. If he picks up a very inexperienced woman, seduces and beds her, then I suspect he has created a false impression in her that he's serious. Those three have precious little moral difference. Though I admit to having a degree of moral confusion, I think even a genuine stud---the kind of guy who can easily attract a carnal partner---takes a more moral high road if he pays a woman who knows it's merely a business transaction, rather than dally with a woman to whom he might be giving false hopes of a serious relationship. Let me add...if the 'good' woman is well aware it's just a one night stand and no money changes hands, how is she morally superior to the woman who does it to earn a living or even support her family? Since you claim seem to be an expert on all matters sexual, perhaps you can enlighten your audience.

And of course the lines at the russian embassy for Thais looking to vacation in russia is miles long.

I'll see your "yawn" and raise you one.... In approximately 5000 comments in several threads of this issue, has a single mind been changed or a single life been saved? You and others argue that 'somebody's' actions caused the Israeli response; in other words, your foist blame and a 'well, if Hamas hadn't, etc.' Thus, I blame Germany. If the Nazis hadn't...if Hamas hadn't....both now history.

No minds are going to be changed on this issue, so how about considering this: Had there been no Nazi Germany and no Holocaust, would there be a Middle East problem now? Is it possible there would not have been the determination to find a safe place for the Jewish people? Was pre-Holocaust Zionism so strong that it would have resulted in an "Israel" absent Hitler? Go one step farther back and ask, if there had not been the demand for reparations after WWI, which eventually led to Weimar hyperinflation, and which set the stage for a demagogue like Hitler to come along, would WWII AND the Middle East problem have come about?

Nonsense. What would your messiah trump do? No doubt toss rolls of paper towels. Or maybe pressure Netanyahu to offer up some dirt on Biden in exchange for aid.

We're siblings. We were the first country outside of China to import your Covid virus, and we've kept its memory alive by many still donning masks all the time. That has to mean something.

Part of the reason is the US is a large, and a relatively isolated nation, compared to Europe. A person who lives in a place like Nebraska needs to travel almost 1200 km just to hit a border, whereas someone in Paris who travels 1200 km could be in 17 different countries. Just to get from East or West coast in the US to Asia or Europe requires 6-10 hours of flying, plus cost. How many europeans, even those with passports, do 6-10 hour flights? Brits go from the UK to Spain or France for maybe 30 quid on Ryan Air, which is like going from eastern Nebraska to western Nebraska.

I doubt it would result in more income. More revenue, maybe, but income, no. Perhaps one or two places per "Entertainment Zone" could squeeze a profit, but most places---when considering staff costs, electricity, etc.---would not see income. Not enough revelers. Besides, young people don't have any money nowadays---or so they complain---so it's pointless for a business to stay open just so skint customers can rave. That would be charity, not business. Finally, if young men lack so much game that they can't score a tryst for the night by 2 am, and in Thailand, they ought to learn the art of seduction. Those Millennial Incels are pathetic. (joking....kind of)

OK, Boomer trumper

Mick Jagger is 80. He's still prancing on the stage, still making babies, and undoubtedly still enjoying his half billion dollars. I think he still has many reasons to want to live.

Thank you for your "generous and kind" thoughts. Most people are not disabled. They're just lazy, or lack the discipline to avoid their vices.. That you are not the norm can engender some sympathy and understanding, but folks who beef and moan about their aches and pains, yet take no responsibility to improve their lifestyle, have no one to blame but themselves. Most people can enjoy a much longer healthspan if they make the effort to improve their lifestyle. Yes, some people will suffer as you have, but for the majority who do not, their belly and their health are up to them.

Agree. Yes, smoking might cut a few years off the back end, but hacking and wheezing away for the smoker's last few years is worse than the last five years a non-smoker gets. Plus, smokers smell like (deleted) for their entire life. Similarly, someone who gets obese and loses a few years off the back end likely felt like crap for his last few years anyway, carrying around a bloated gut, having joint and back pain, maybe suffering Type II diabetes complications, and looking like a land whale. No thanks. Healthspan can be greatly extended if one wants to put in the work. Resistance training, good sleep, a decent diet of enjoyable foods...and a fifty year old can be in the shape of a 35 year old. A couple hours a week in the gym might add a decade or two of 'youth' in terms of fitness, mobility and overall health. Most people loved their younger years. Isn't it worth it to add another decade or two of youth? For some, maybe it's too much work. Some might argue, "Yea, but I could get hit by a bus tomorrow, so why sweat in a gym and avoid cheesecake?" As they say in Thailand: "Up to you" I prefer playing the odds. So far it has worked. Zero ailments, zero medications, no ED, agile and mobile, precious little fat, lots of muscular definition, and the libido of a teen. There's a commercial in the US for some supplement where the tagline is: "She'll like it, too". Well, hit the gym and she'll like it. For those so inclined, there might be many "shes" who like it. Life is good.

There are 3 kinds of people: 1) Those who hate anyone who is not like them 2) Those who hate themselves and instantly 'go local' 3) Those who (mostly) try to judge each person individually Even Cat 3 is prone to making generalizations, as that is human nature. Having resided in several countries with diverse cultures, I find that I often make generalizations, fair or not. I can do the same for my own country, where I find people increasingly willfully ignorant and morbidly obese. The willfully ignorant even have a champion, who is their new messiah. I guess I have some generalizations about Thailand, too. I do find people quite friendly, though I can see not all of it is real. There does seem to be a feeling among many that their Thailand is the center of the known Universe, though I cannot see why anyone would think that. It goes against what I have seen from the outside, where the average outsider, if asked what is Thailand, would say "spicy food, bargirls". Thailand occupies no significant place in human history, neither ancient nor modern. It sits 25th or so among 200+ nations in terms of population size, but an objective history of human civilization would not even devote a sentence to it. Something that has always struck me is what seems to be a total lack of curiosity. Few seem to have any interest in knowing about the outside world, about the nature of existence, about the evolution of our species, about physics or science in general, about the history of discovery and invention, about most anything other than things Thai. Maybe that is all that is required to live, but for someone who was raised in a place where curiosity was (perhaps not anymore) embedded in us, the total lack of wanting to know anything outside of one's daily life is odd. Thai people can still be, and mostly are, wonderful, but the cultural difference and how that manifests itself in interests and the thirst for knowledge is what would prevent me from ever considering a serious long term relationship with a Thai woman. Lovely as they are, I can see nothing but abject boredom over the long term.

Suddenly lots of 'new' members, spewing out baiting-style posts like diarrhea. How coincidental most of the newbies also write in a similar manner. Is it just one or two trolls, or is it fattening up the site 'hits' for a sale?

There are some former airline employees here who likely know better, but I recall reading an article that said US airlines assume an average weight of each customer plus baggage as 185 lbs (about 84kg). That, at least in the US, is fanciful now. Since 1993 the average American is 35 lbs heavier. That ain't genetics or evolution; it's sloth and gluttony. For large aircraft, I guess there would be fuel savings if passengers were distributed better, but there is less of a safety issue in terms of trim. On smaller aircraft it definitely is an issue, and there have been fatal crashes on commuter aircraft, due to obese passengers and bad distribution of weight.. So obese are many now that they must ask for a seat belt extension in order to get it around their fat. Flight attendants dip into a closet and take one out. I think they have a sizable inventory, as so many flying are obese. Clearly Economy Seats with the arm rests down cannot contain the overflow blubber of many. Some passengers cannot even fit into the bathroom, as the door doesn't open wide enough to allow their girth. One would think the physical discomfort of 'holding it in' on long haul flights would encourage the obese to better their lifestyle. Should there be an emergency and a need to rapidly evacuate, fat people will get in the way and likely be the cause of unnecessary deaths. There are many reasons why 'fat shaming' would be good for society, and this is one of them. Time to toss out the 'body positive' nonsense. Fat is not beautiful.

The Apocalypse must be upon us, as I see myself in agreement with bignok. Most of us, while we have fun in life, are pretty meaningless in the overall scheme of things. There are some few people, however, who make a huge difference to the human condition. None of these achievers is perfect, whether it is Newton, James Clerk Maxwell, MLK, Enrico Fermi or Steven Jobs, but what they leave behind betters the lives of billions. Individually, we all have the chance to make some difference, but precious few have the skill, brains or charisma to make a difference on a grand scale. It's okay to salute those who do. Jobs was instrumental in pushing for the wide adoption of computers for all, something that now gives every human being on the planet access to information long available only to the few. Yes, he did not do it alone, nor did the PC alone lead to the widest dissemination of knowledge in history, but Jobs was an integral part. The PC is Gutenberg's printing press turbocharged. In terms of thinking about mortality, I don't need any religious 'expert' to tell or teach me anything. I have zero respect for any 'man of the cloth', ancient or modern, simply because of their title, because none tells us anything we wouldn't know by the time we reach adulthood. No morality, no life lessons, nothing of value comes from any religious figure. Humans collectively developed all the rules anyone needs simply when humans decided to become 'civilized' and live among each other. Unless one is a psychopath, one knows how to live a moral life. Religious figures too often add drivel into their 'teachings', such as tales of some afterlife or reincarnation or similar nonsense. This is it, right here, right now. One life, with a definite beginning and a definite final ending. Entropy is going to win in the end, but for this brief moment, we get to experience the wonder of existence, find joys, test our abilities, and choose how we interact with those who share time and space with us.. Jobs might have had some beliefs, but in this speech at my alma mater, he just advised people to become the best they can be and reach whatever level of greatness they can.

There are echoes of folks I hear when dining out al fresco, where sound travels well from table to table. The speakers fit a profile. They go apoplectic about very minor issues like wokeism. Invariably these are guys who came to Thailand to 'live the dream', but soon found out paltry savings and a meager pension, along with a bloated waist from years of neglect and sloth, don't exactly scream 'babe magnet'. Some added a flame tattoo or a Maori Warrior tatt, thinking that might help, but it just looked silly when paired with a 100cm waist. Heaven forbid they'd cut back on the booze or hit the weight room. Their own abject failure in life, plus all the problems of the world, are others' fault. Politically they turn to trump, because his utterly transparent facade, that tries to mask his woeful insecurity, fools them. They see a 'tough guy' who 'tells it like it is', when in point of fact he's a bloated coward. He gives them someone to blame, so they never have to take stock and admit their own inadequacies. They long for a world of minimal competition, where 'women knew their place' and the white man still carried his Kipling-esque burden. It attacks their sense of self when women or minorities have infinitely more talents, plus a relentless ambition that leaves the wannabe babe magnets in the dust.

So funny all the comments about 'woke-ism' here. Does it really affect your lives so much, or do you just need to complain about something to fill your curmudgeonly days? It's not hard to ignore, especially in Thailand. I'm happy to call a katoey 'her' and a Tom 'him' if it makes them happy. No skin off my teeth. As for the question: I absolutely love women, but damn if I would ever want to be one anywhere anytime. Being a male is infinitely easier, physically and in society at large. I'm not a believer, but if I was, I would expect any and all deities to be male, as they have played a cruel trick on females. Since the sole purpose of life is more life, doing the needful in the most pleasurable and efficient way possible is the way to go. My contribution to propagating my gene pool is a joyous act, one that I'm happy to practice as much as possible. Even if I succeed in getting sperm and egg together (I have no desire to do so), I'm effectively done at that point, unless I'm moral and responsible (which I hope I would be). The recipient of my fluid, however, is going to have her body out of control and irreparably damaged over the next 9 months, and the only saving grace is that her 'monthly visitor' goes on a hiatus for a while. Yes, her instincts are going to convince her it's a beautiful thing, and the little bundle of crying, pooping, peeing, vomiting, sleeping 'skills' is a wonder and supposedly lovable, which will help her get over post-partum depression....maybe. Also, she is shut out of the mating game at a still young age. Few studly men want to bed a woman age 50 or more, unless it was 50 year old Sophia Loren, Raquel Welch or J Lo. That's a small universe of lucky women. I can go out for a short walk in Bangkok and see dozens of 50+ men as lucky, walking hand-in-hand with a lovely 20-something Thai female. Nothing in this Universe is so unfair as biology. If offered a billion dollars to become a female and endure pregnancy, I would say ABSOLUTELY NOT.....and I do like money. As for the 2 country choices---since male is a given---I'm not sure. Bangladesh is not so special, but fortunes change and maybe, at some point, Bangladesh will be on the rise. The UK seems to be in a death spiral and in decline, perhaps more than any other 'developed' nation. Historically, many nations have had their day, and then they faded into something between also ran and historical footnote. Greece, Portugal and Spain spring to mind. None is a bad place, but nobody would look at any of them and say "THAT is the place to make a run at success". Retirement, maybe, but not a springboard to major wealth and success. Sadly, the UK wouldn't even appeal as a retirement option.

LIke Deir Yassin? The King David Hotel? One of the murderers went on to be Israel's Prime Minister. That kind of 'consequence'? It's always the innocents, on both sides, who suffer. The bad guys become leaders.

Anybody's god is worse. It almost makes you want to be a believer in deity superstitions, because it can make you feel better about humanity in a relative sense.. We're bad, but not as bad as a god.

The 'true nature of humanity' has always been there. Today is no different; it only seems different because the media keeps it in your face. Since Oldavai Gorge it's always been 'my gene pool is better than your gene pool'. We're driven by our biology, or for the religious out there, we're 'made in god's image', and it's the Old Testament god, who is as evil and vindictive as the worst of us. At any point in history, save for all-too brief periods of peace, or at minimum slaughter that occurred away from cameras, humans have been slaughtering other humans for not being 'one of us'. From slavery to the Sea Peoples to Alexander to the Visigoths to the Vandals to the Vikings to Genghis Khan to Tamerlane to the 'colonization' of the Americas to Napoleon to Australia to Colonialism and Imperialism to the Inquisitions to the Armenian Genocide to WWI to Stalin to WWII to the Holocaust to the Cultural Revolution to Kampuchea to Vietnam to Lebanon to Yugoslavia to Rwanda to Iraq to Ukraine to Gaza-Israel...this is what humans do and have always done. We're animals who behave like animals, with pack leaders fighting for authority or pack vs pack or clan vs clan. We all have the potential for violence, either when threatened, or when our gene pool is threatened, or even when we feel slighted or disrespected. You feel saddened because you were reminded of what we have always been.....and always will be. You think you take the high road because you have been able to control yourself, but only because you've avoided the horrors or slights that would bring out the real 'humanity' in you. Even Gandhi approved of violence during the worst of Partition.

Wow, this one got much more press than the special Hamas 90-day visa free entry! I did think the paraglider lessons in Pattaya was a nice touch for the Hamas shebabs, but I'm not sure they believe that the Thai govt can supply them with 72 virgins. Certainly not in Pattaya. I understand Kim Jong-un, anxious for his own Thai get-away, is considering invading the south, as that seems to be the calculus to win the favor of this new Thai govt.

"others" can do nothing about it? What % is "others"? Funny how those 'genetics' really only started to be expressed in the last few decades.