Walker88

But does Bard know this? Moving forward reduces fear. You can also reduce fear by consciously making the eye movements used when moving forward, which is to say, moving your eyes from side to side. You don't even need to move forward, just shift the eyes left and right. There is an odd confluence of the optic nerve and areas of the brain involved in fear. It's an adaptation that has been selected into the species. It suggests that our human ancestors who met danger head on had a greater survival rate than those who cut and ran, or at the very least it suggests those who froze in the tracks got eaten. Bringing it back to Wayne's Walk, to some extent he was becoming the character he tried to project. Physical action can alter reality. Neuroplasticity.

It isn't ego, it's ability to spend. I have 300 ties still. Absurd, but it is what it is. I don't need but more than one or two here, and those only rarely. You spend what you can spend. I saved on average 97% of take home, but I still was a conspicuous consumer. The world isn't fair. I was compensated for value I didn't really add. NYC and other major cities like London and Tokyo were full of people like me.

NYC has always been a bit of an outlier in terms of pricing. If one is in a high-paying line of work, one adjusts, or put another way, adopts the habits of one's peers. It's still easy to save. Back when I lived there, and when we still had to dress for work, I'd hit the Brioni shop and pick up multiple suits at a time. Find a shop that sells Stefano Ricci shirts and load up there, too. Ties were Hermes or Brioni. It was the 'uniform'. Still have most of them and they both still fit and look new. Quality does last. Of course there isn't much occasion to wear the stuff in Bangkok, except for a few of the the shirts, so most all of it remains in another home. Many found their way into Goodwill, too. Somebody got a bargain. In the end I was happy to leave NYC for an Asian capital, and later that entire industry. It's really easy to drift into a-hole-dom when one earns at that rate. When I realized I had become an a-hole, I quit. Been paying penance ever since, as well as 200 baht for as good of a haircut as I ever got in some phoofy NYC salon.

Closer to home, a night at the Mandarin Oriental in Bangkok will run you from 19500 baht to 430000 baht, depending on the room. The 430000 baht/night suite is fully booked until mid next month. Enjoy your money. You can't take it with you, and kids generally don't deserve it.

Thank you. I always wondered why my IQ was 27.

Seems as worthwhile as any religion; in fact, I think it greatly trumps being a Benedictine monk. Paganism never goes away. It's in the genome of most humans. New faiths just get spread like butter on top of what was already there. Even the ancients figured out that it takes two to tango. Tab A has to go into Slot B, lest the race go extinct. It makes sense to worship the tools of procreation. I have been in agogos where a mamasan carries around a dildo and subservient bargirls bow and let her pat parts of their bodies with the appendage. I don't think that act is in anyone's Holy Book.

It's a well-written article, and I don't believe the female writer is a kid. Perhaps you should open the LINK and read it.

That would not be him, so you've seen a Not Stickman. Still it could have been a Notstickman, but more likely a Not Notstickman. Or you could have seen the ghost of Trink, known to appear sometimes in the Patpong area. Though I don't know for sure, I believe Stickman is fairly thin, maybe 180 cm, and late 40s. I think you can Google and find images of him online.

Whenever I read something where the writer goes on about things like Davos or the 'globalist elite', the Dunning-Kruger Effect naivete makes my teeth hurt. Will Forum members be reading about chemtrails or FEMA Camps next? Though you won't believe it, "Davos" is where the wealthy and those who want to be seen as 'somebody' go to show off the new interior of their Gulfstream 700. Put another way, it's about comparing 'junk' size. Those who fear Davos ought to fear lightning more, because there is a slight possibility that lightning could affect their life, while there is a 0% chance Davos will. In fact, research shows that even the flimsiest of Covid-19 masks gives the wearer full protection against everything Davos-ian. One doesn't even need to line it with tin foil. As for the silly conspiracy nonsense about 'globalist elite', have you not noticed even Bezos and Musk compete against each other (in space), and both are Americans (Musk naturalized). Do you think Chinese, Russian, Middle Eastern and old money European billionaires all just get along like Frat Brothers? These 'globalist elite' conspire to choose a Thai PM? Geez. Thailand might be #25 in terms of population, but is likely #100 or so in terms of world importance. It's an afterthought, except for a certain group of retirees or young ravers. Thailand is a lovely place, but not so significant that some international elite would care one way or the other who the PM is. Most of the elite couldn't care less you exist. Most spend their time trying to knock whomever they think is their competitor off the top. They 'cooperate' the way the Pakistanis and Indians cooperate, or the Israelis and Palestinians, Germans and French, Hatfields and McCoys, Red Shirts and Yellow Shirts. Relax.

The staff asked him to take it out in the street, away from the shop. I don't know the rules---legal in public or not---and neither did they foreigner.

Banning it again would cause some pain to those who spent big overbuilding weed shops, but financial pain is rarely part of political calculus. If the Thai majority is anti-weed, they won't shed any tears for those who lose. I have heard from some Thai people, even young ones, that many shops look comical and 'give Thailand a bad name'. That is their opinion. Some do create a carnival atmosphere and seem to be sets from a Cheech and Chong movie. I'm not a user, so it won't bother me one way or the other if they stay or go. I know there's a market for it, though probably a lot smaller than the now ubiquitous shops would suggest. I would hope users are discreet and take into consideration other's private space. Cig smokers often fail to do that and impose their habit on others. Two days ago I was eating in an al fresco area of a restaurant, where there were many signs with weed leaves and the int'l "NO !" symbol on top of it, yet some foreign guy maybe 65-70 years old lit up a boner whose heavy smoke covered both inside and outside the shop. That is rude. That sort of inconsiderate behavior could well lead to a renewed ban.

I suspect this post will be deleted, too, despite the fact it is directly related to Durham. I know several people who were drilled by Durham and his people. Incidentally they all had to hire lawyers, though most have personal liability insurance because of the positions they hold/held. None are FBI, all are agency. To a person they said Durham was goal seeking. He had zero interest in the evidence of actual collusion, but merely went searching for un-dotted "i"s and uncrossed "t"s, so that he could hang his hat and expense on something or anything. When actual evidence was revealed in intel reports (such as manafort's meeting with kilimnik, or stone and Wikileaks), the response was "That's manafort...or stone, not trump", as if trump didn't know. "Hey, I just hired paul as my Campaign Manager...anybody know where he is?" Nonsense. Note that Durham found nothing untoward in the agency, and even praised Brennan's handling of the matter. Perhaps in time these interview subjects will come out and expose the facts about Durham. Maybe there will be an investigation of the investigators of the investigators, kind of a 3rd derivative.

You eat according to your own metabolism and fitness level. That is becoming clearer each day as new research is undertaken. Overweight and sedentary people best avoid simple carbs, sugars and salt. Very fit and low body fat people can eat lots of carbs and may need extra salt. They burn the carbs via exercise, lose salt through sweat, and many need to replenish it, especially if they have generally low BP. There's a new breed of physicians who gear diet toward the fitness and fatness level of their patients. Generalizations are bad because no one size fits all. What diet a person with, say, fasting blood glucose of 65-70, 10% body fat, and BP of 105/65 needs, is much different from what a 100+ fasting blood glucose, 30%+ body fat, and BP of 130/80 needs. Re happiness as a function of weight, I simply cannot believe it's fun to waddle around looking six months pregnant, with aching joints, back pain, no definition and always gasping for breath. The cakes and pies and colas cannot be that much of a reward to overcome the pain of obesity. As for Thai women and their weight gain, I'm of the view (absent good research) that there is a high correlation between the 7-11 diet and the extra kilos. I recall a quote from many years ago---when Thai women might have averaged 40-45 kg---that when a Thai woman is eating she's fantasizing about her next meal. In the past that next meal was spicy somtam or noodle soup with a few balls of minced meat. Sadly, today that next meal is a sugary vente latte with some packaged junk from 7-11.

You sound bitter. Calling me a 'troll' because I introduced some recent research smacks of keto cult status. Besides having a background in biochemistry (undergrad degree), I follow the work coming out of major medical schools and research institutes. I have a preference for work coming out of Stanford, as that happens to be one of my alma maters. I read the work and follow the LINKS suggested by people like Dr Peter Attia and Dr Andrew Huberman. Research is ongoing, but there are issues arising with the keto diet. Low serotonin production is one issue, and that has links to depression and other mood swings. Perhaps your obvious bitterness stems from that. Having never been overweight and never out of shape, I never had any need for keto diets, but I do read the research out of curiosity. Diets cannot be changed drastically with no side effects. Long term keto dieters have taught their body to turn off insulin production. Research is ongoing to determine what effects that could have when the pure keto diet stops. Wonderful that you lost so much weight (though I never will understand how anyone could gain that much weight to begin with. I suppose it's never too late to adopt the self control and discipline that was lacking when all that weight was packed on.)

(This will fit the tl:dr category.) How? You can start by avoiding the "morons". Avoid negative people, unless it's a friend who needs a quick boost. The title of this thread was curious enough to get me to open it, and as I read through the comments, I realized I cannot recall any major mood swings or bad days in my own life for quite some time, perhaps decades. I pass each day at worst in a neutral state, and at best both grateful for today and anticipatory for tomorrow. I'm not sure why that is my state, but I have a few ideas. Nothing I write here could be a quick fix, but as a long term plan, maybe it would help you. If anyone is clinically depressed, of course, then medical intervention might be needed, as that sort of mood is physical. One cannot cure that any more than one can will away a broken leg. Another thing to consider is if one has markedly altered one’s diet. There is a body of research suggesting a link between low carb diets and depression, as the body fails to produce enough serotonin. What I write is not Deepak Chopra or Tony Robbins psychobabble, but more Francis Bacon science. I read a lot of research. I believe I’m nothing more than a biomechanical entity, a collection of muscles and organs and nerves and neurons that are my mind and body. When it breaks down eventually and the neurons stop firing, all I was and all I am returns to the nothingness it was before my birth. So be it. The machine tends to work well, but it can be altered in both positive and negative ways. I am also a believer in neuroplasticity, the ability of the brain to get rewired. That rewiring can be either positive or negative. Injury or illness can be negative. The way one thinks seems to indicate another way to rewire, and again, that can be either positive or negative. Think of it like learning a difficult piece on classical guitar. Initially one must be very deliberate in manipulating the hand to get the right fingerings. Do it a thousand times, and it becomes subconscious. You have produced brain-body connections that control movements without conscious thought. I believe one can program the mind in the same way to produce ups and neutrals, with minimal or no negatives. So here are some suggestions. Obviously they are only suggestions, but some might help. First, take time to feel grateful. I don't have any beliefs or religion, but 'grateful' is just a sense that life or experiences have been fun. I play back funny or satisfying moments of each day, talks I had with friends, things I did, and often do the same for more distant memories or experiences. I also think of accomplishments for which I feel proud. Second, I once heard a guy say that you should do something every day that 'sucks'. I now do that. Find something you really need to do, but absolutely don't want to do, then get it done. The idea seemed silly at first, almost masochistic, but it gives one a sense of accomplishment and clears the decks to move into a positive way of thinking and feeling, because 'the worst is behind me'. For me, that thing that 'sucks' could be a two hour exercise regime, or it could be cleaning up my house. There even could be some pleasure in doing the task (I do enjoy my weight lifting routines), but if there is an element of pain, great effort, or boredom in the task, that makes it the thing that 'sucks'. Get it out of the way, and then the rest of the day becomes better. Beating or completing the thing that sucks is another way of testing yourself. I have found that one of the things I enjoy most is taking on challenges. Find out what your limits are. Find out how strong or tough or resilient or skilled you are. Push yourself. Third, be endlessly curious. Anyone alive today has it better than 99.999% of all the ~130 billion humans who have ever existed. The entire body of knowledge gleaned by humans since Oldavai Gorge is at our fingertips, something Newton, Maxwell, Faraday, Aristotle, etc. could not even dream about. That is a staggering opportunity to have.....provided one is interested in learning and knowing. Fourth, learn to be anticipatory in a positive way. Find or create something that you look forward to. It could be meeting a friend tomorrow. It could be a vacation. It could be working on a skill, like woodworking, playing classical guitar, pursuing some new hobby, etc. Find the things that could please you, then plan to undertake them. Fifth, have a sense of humor, even one that is absurdist or cynical. Create in your mind a skit about the morons you must deal with, or about some world event that is not a positive. Imagine you're doing improvisational comedy, and use your creativity to turn a sow's ear into a silk purse. It not only can make you laugh, it requires the kind of consuming creativity that takes away the negative element of the morons or terrible world events. If there is a common element to any of the things I've written, it is that most seem to be outward looking. None involve navel gazing or 'woe is me' thinking. Do these things, or learn over time how to do them, and---if you have the same experience I do---you will find your days, and mood, is either positive or at worst, neutral. From a biochemical perspective, I think this is the best one can do. One cannot be in a constant state of a dopamine rush, as one would become inured to it. As an example, think of having endless sex. It would get boring. If one allows time for the hormones to replenish, however, then the next romp in the hay is a peak experience. The brain and body renew themselves, and the desires return. Some people find comfort or strength in some faith. Maybe that would work for you. If it does, great. Personally, I hold no religious beliefs, and am of the view that all faiths were developed by men who were either liars or lunatics. I am of the opinion that one faith or philosophy was founded by someone who was clinically depressed. He found a ‘solution’ in a mental state, largely because science and medicine were so primitive 2500 years ago there was no alternative. Because life was difficult back then, his solution was embraced by others and a major faith arose. Of course, that guy didn’t know about dopamine or other hormones, so had absolutely no understanding of the physical nature of existence, mood or mental state. He made up lots of drivel, but it resonated with people who needed an outlet and some sort of hope. No one is ever going to eliminate the hits that life inevitably provides, like the death of a loved one or a terrible illness, but the goal should be to make the time when those hits are being absorbed much more enjoyable. Existence might not have any real meaning, but each of us has the ability to enjoy, and that in and of itself produces all the meaning one needs.

Always an interesting and contentious subject.... The dollar is strong despite the ever-growing deficit primarily because there is no other place to go. Capital seeks return, plus ease of entry and exit. The US' strength is its massive liquid capital markets, rule of law, and the taxing authority of a government in charge of a $25 trillion economy and a land that remains---with some threats on the horizon---the hub of technological innovation. Ain't nobody innocent in all this. The EU, when facing the 2008 Financial Crisis, doubled down and could see a world of hurt coming. Remember what the EU did: Dragi saw two problems, high interest rates getting in the way of sovereign borrowing, and bank NPLs. He 'solved' it by printing money, giving it to banks, and telling them to load up on sovereign debt. Banks bought so much they drove Spain's rates from 7% down to 50 pips. That allowed Spain and others to borrow a lot more, and created 'gains' for banks, whose leveraged and reserve requirements dropped because of this Ponzi Scheme of Dragi. If rates continue to rise, banks lose those gains on the paper they hold, and the cost of servicing EU sovereign debt goes up as paper matures and needs to be rolled over. Also, little was done to actually eliminate EU banks' NPLs. Exacerbating the problem is the fact the EU banking system is about 3 times the size of EU GDP, while in the US the banking system is only a bit over 80% of US GDP. Switzerland is a problem in and of itself. I'll just say this: look at Swiss GDP, then look at the asset base of UBS-Credit Swiss. A banking crisis in Switzerland would decimate its economy. Those banks also have lots of dollar loan exposure to Eastern Europe and other developing economies, while the dollar in which the loans were made has risen a lot against home currencies. No way the yen or yuan become the reserve currency. The servicing requirements of Japan's debt as a % of govt inflows makes Greece look stable. Japan has an aging population and a woefully underfunded pension system, owing to peculiarities in accounting by trust banks that manage pensions. China has no rule of law, so getting capital out will always be an issue. China also has enormous excess capacity in almost everything, especially steel. Bitcoin? Ah....a thing that is wildly energy intensive, closely held by a relatively few individuals with zero power behind them (vs sovereigns with laws, efficient markets, militaries, etc.) where transactions are limited by the complexity of the system, has about a 0% chance of being significant in a world with a $65 trillion economy. When 'mining' coins used more energy in 2022 than the energy used in the nation of Argentina, something incredibly silly is going on. The dollar will eventually fall by the wayside, but if one is older than, say, age 20, one won't see it.

You smoke for the taste? Eat a brownie/cookie for that flavor? I'm willing to bet 95% or more of those who use weed do so with the intent of getting high, not to enjoy 'hints of black currant and licorice'.

They will join the ranks of those who bought Blockbuster Video franchises, set up Internet Cafes, installed sidewalk telephone booths, owned 1 hour film developing shops, sold asbestos insulation...or they will just revert to the Indian Tailor shop or Family Mart they were before weed was made kind of legal. Capital will be reallocated and banks will add to their NPLs. Capitalism is dynamic, buffeted by changes tastes, innovation, and perhaps in this instance, democracy.

Well, there is a difference. Not everyone who drinks alcohol has the express purpose of getting blitzed. Some people just enjoy the flavor of, for example, a nice Barolo with a filet. I suspect nobody lights up a joing because of the flavor. The sole purpose of weed is to get stoned. Granted 'junkie' implies addiction, and isn't exactly fair, but alcohol need not be consumed to excess, while weed is always consumed to excess; there's precious little reason to light up except to get buzzed.

If I ever made the mistake of propagating, the LAST thing I would do is overspend on a kid of leave them much inheritance. That would rob them of what I found to be life's greatest pleasure, which is meeting challenges and making one's self a success. Let the kid find out what he or she is made of.

I've yet to spawn and have no intention of ever doing so. I seem to lack the basic human instinct to propagate my gene pool. I have found that the most boring thing in the Universe is a new mother, and damn if I would want to live with one. They "love" something that eats, sleeps, wails away, poops and vomits---and they love that more than hubby. I often overhear conversations in a coffee shop or the like where women engage in competitive baby achievements, like "My baby is already crawling" (with the implication that baby is going to grow up to be Mozart or a Noble Prize winner...it won't). I often hear that NOT having kids is 'selfish'. Selfish? Because I don't want to produce offspring who will also produce offspring who will produce yet more offspring who will suck up yet more and more of Earth's limited resources? Maybe as a parent one must become less selfish, but the corollary to that is most definitely NOT that the non-reproducer is selfish. Over the years I have donated millions of dollars to various causes and charities, and if I had been spawning, I probably would have kept all that dosh to take care of 'junior'. I'm sure being a parent is wildly fulfilling for those driven to propagate their gene pool, but it has never been an urge or instinct of mine. There's already plenty of kids in the world, and if populations do happen to get reduced, the only issue I see with that is that the Ponzi Schemes of pensions/Social Security/etc. will suffer. Now I don't mind PRACTICING gene pool propagation as often as time allows, but that's a totally different form of satisfaction.

Very difficult to have even a modicum of sympathy for an adult idiot who cannot act in a responsible manner.

"experts say they may still be effective" Muskets or even spears would be effective when the russians are targeting unarmed civilians, women and children.

The guy is an expert marksmen when it comes to shooting himself in the foot. In his deposition, he said, "Rich men have been getting away with this for a million years, unfortunately or fortunately" One might guess that his use of "fortunately" to describe sexual assault did not sit well in the jury deliberation room.

I first wondered about the invasion of privacy involved in taking such a photo, but then went back to the image and saw "Photo via Go Fund Me". Are there no bike accidents ever in the UK? I guess because he's a foreigner in Thailand, and a Caucasian one at that, it makes the news, but even in Thailand these tales are becoming almost a "dog bites man" sort of story. (I wonder if the accident victim was from, say, Nigeria, the story would get as much press and sympathy?) Perhaps someone should make a compilation of them and put it in a video shown shortly before landing at Suvarnabhumi, and then set up a booth in the Suvarnabhumi lobby to sell insurance packages. Tourists might also benefit from being given a warning slip that says Thailand and its people/hospitals shall not be held responsible for the costs of medical care for the under or poorly insured. Good luck to the guy.