Fat is a type of crazy

He became PRESIDENT. He is PRESIDENT. Pontificate all you want but you need some smarts, grace, cleverness and toughness to be who he is. 

Jon Stewart would be nice, clever guy, but he may where his heart on his sleeve a bit too much. Joe's strength is his ability to be in the middle and see both sides. In Australia he'd be considered a bit to the right in economic terms. 

11 minutes ago, Sparktrader said:

Does book reading teach you how to win Wimbledon or US Masters?

 

Does it help running Tesla?

 

Nope. Book reading is book reading.

 

Books are just ideas. Action makes things work.

A degree can give you skills. I did accounting. Didn't like it but it got me somewhere. It helps you learn how to write and structure your thinking. Skills I see lacking every day in the workplace.

I am no Bill Gates. Us nobody office workers, who get decent pay and will get a nice public service pension, benefited from what a degree provided.

On your other topic, I stayed in an Akha village in 1985 at 20, with my girlfriend. I looked at them. They looked at me.  Learn more in a book if I happened to be interested unless I stayed for a long long time. 

8 hours ago, BigStar said:

She has never had any intelligent conversation with you.

 

Sounds like her topics are inherently more interesting and useful than whatever opinionated blather you have to offer about international politics and world news.

 

Reminds me of that old song by The Pretenders:

 

. . . the news of the world
Got in the house like a pigeon from hell, oh oh oh oh
Threw sand in our eyes and descended like flies
Put us back on the train
Oh, back on the chain gang

 

How about get into the character study of the relatives and neighbors? Probably a great novel to be written there, like The God of Small Things. Those relatives and friends may form the basis for a great literary masterpiece. Start off with something like

 

Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.

 

Get extremely fluent in Thai and you could enlighten her about aspects of Thai culture, including of course Thai cuisine, that she'd probably be interested to know.

 

To her great relief, no doubt. You don't appear to have done much to narrow that distance.

 

Leave her the car or truck, too.

 

If you're in love, whatever your partner says is interesting. Nor should the relationship depend on exchanging hot air about topics having no relevance to your personal lives, especially when, come down to it, you'd demand she agree with you, merely echo your opinions. How silly.

 

And it's doubtful you could cope with a woman more educated and intelligent than yourself who'd disagree with your "politics" and point out your mistakes. Why didn't you marry an Oxford grad when you had the chance? WOT?

 

Well, who knows, you may come to miss those little "stupid" things she said, realize that in those days when you were hearing them from her, you were in a good place. A few of our less superficial members can probably remember the charm of an old love's chatter. Enjoy the loneliness and talking to yourself.

As usual from you some good points amongst the harshness. I would just say there is a sense of relaxedness, or put a different way, a blankness, in Thai woman that can be both charming and, in the longer term, disheartening and a bit tedious.

It is a generalisation, and may be related to the fact that she is likely to be significantly younger and prettier than you, and therefore have a different approach and focus in life. 

It is not necessarily the desire to pontificate and debate world politics but just the ability to move the discussion to other than the trivialities of food, immediate family issues, how beautiful she is and a focus on photos, smiles and .... blankness. My partners haven't been vain or social media crazy but most women like to steer the conversation to their loveliness if they in fact are lovely. 

It can depend on which part of the cycle a relationship is in, and as you say it is likely a blessing not to have a partner to discuss each other's 2 cents on world events, but sometimes it would be nice to have a meaty discussion with someone who understands the world, your world, and have something interesting and thought provoking to say. 

Why have you ignored the feedback, in comments  and emojis, to your posts. You obviously prefer a one way street.  I wonder what happens to older notifications unread for confused or sad faces. 

4 hours ago, 1FinickyOne said:

3 weeks. That is a long flight. 

The multiple stops is for her to come here. Can take 2 days and 4 times the normal cost for the privilege. Me going there is the alternative option - direct flights - a few weeks in Phuket sounds nice but … see what happens next.

18 minutes ago, Tiger1980 said:

Bell did not invent the telephone, it was the Italian Meucci.

In 2002, the US House of Representatives accepted that Meucci’s work was so important that it could have been enough to prevent Bell getting a patent. Over the years, Bell’s right to any credit has been challenged by evidence that he plagiarised key parts of his design.

It does discuss him in some detail in the link. I did note 'Others before them in some form but Bell with documented proof.' The link discusses who might be deemed to be the inventor based on contemporary evidence and such.

Quora notes this: 'Some people point to the first person that came up with an idea and published it. Some people point to the first person that came up with a working prototype. Some people point to the first person to create a practical model that can be mass produced. And some people point to the first person to patent an idea.'

A google search indicates it is not clear cut though if you have a particular criteria you may go a particular way. 

I feel your pain. I have just worked through a long cold winter and need some Thai fun. Did have one trip but seems like an age away. The girlfriend is working but said out of the blue yesterday she'd like to come here before our 3 year visa runs out in early October - but air fares are sold out or prohibitively expensive i.e. $3000 one way with multiple stops. So I might go there in mid October - still expensive but not too bad. Good accommodation deals here and there.

Not much to do here - probably my lack of imagination - same drinks with friends and talk about the usual things. 

On 9/24/2022 at 10:20 AM, mania said:

No of course never but John Quincy Adams, Secretary of State

said it best about America..

"But she goes not abroad, in search of monsters to destroy"

I have attached his speech which is short & worth the read IMHO

 

1821secofstateJQAdmas.pdf 15.4 kB · 2 downloads

3 hours ago, mania said:

So we should also attack Israel or thats ok?

Cut the nonsense we are not the police of this world

 

North Korea is not simply a country with a different political approach or different world view - it is a obviously controlled by a dictator who can only keep his people, and the world, at bay by threatening death and destruction, including a nuclear arsenal that can strike harder and further, with each year that passes.

One needs to be proactive. In Adams times, we are talking about attacks by wooden war ships with cannon balls, and soldiers with bayonets. Not ballistic missiles sent from 15,000 kilometres away. 

38 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

To start with, I wouldn’t conclude that he’s an alcoholic and start advising him to seek help...

 

The reality is that on this forum as soon as booze is mentioned some posters are tripping over themselves to accuse other posters of being alcoholics on the thinnest of information.... 

 

I haven’t had a drink for a couple of weeks. 

Yet, catch me at a different time and I may have had a drink every day for the past week, a few beers with dinner, perhaps followed by wine... then some Whisky.... Or playing football, then lots of beers afterwards with the guys....  or round a friends house and end up having as many as 2 or more bottles of wine each....   It just depends on the situation... 

 

Of course, motion that and some poster will always comment - 2-3 bottles of wine in an evening... you must have a drinking problem !!!....   

Or.. drinking every day for a week, you need help !! etc etc... 

 

its predictable and boresome.

Not necessarily contradicting you but it can depend on the context of the topic. There is a difference between pointing a finger towards alcoholism, and on the other hand, suggesting that a good outcome may be a reduction in drinking.

Describing someone as a potential alcoholic may not be called for. In recent topics though, if someone is describing a situation where they are a difficult drunk, or are discussing something sad while noting at the same time that they are on their xth beer or bottle of wine, or they describe being paralytic drunk, throwing up, and asleep in a taxi, one may be entertained, I suppose, or one may suggest a helpful solution may be a reduction in alcohol. 

If you posted the above as a topic, i.e. I like a big drink with the boys from time to time, but tend to have a good time with breaks in between, no one be likely to suggest there is a problem at hand. 

38 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

Go Back? Really? You know, not only one on this forum is a brit. But we all know, you have the best people, the best cities, the best of everything. That´s why you have the mad expression "best of British". Almost same mad as "hunky dory"! And by all means, do not tell people that you call them. just say "I give you a bell". Still, you have not understood that Graham Bell did not invent the phone. It was Edison. Wonder how long time it´s going take to change to "I give you an edison".

Only that kind of abuse of English will make me stay away from UK, among many other things your arrogant society have to offer. I am amazed that a Thai woman can have the wish to move to London. Will probably be like 80-90% that tried. They will be back here telling horrible stories for a lifetime. ????

Graham Bell was before Edison. Others before them in some form but Bell with documented proof.

 Invention of the telephone - Wikipedia

The term 'Give me a bell' likely came from the noise of the bell on the phone rather than due to Mr Bell.

 Life in both places can work well if you are a happy person willing to work a bit.  

My ex wife wouldn't dream of living in Thailand. She loves Melbourne and Australia. The availability of well paid work, the big open clean streets with wide footpaths, she can get all her Thai food with better quality meat and vegetables, not hot all the time, etc etc. Not UK but similar principle. Not sure it helped or hindered our relationship - probably gave her more options but 6 years was enough for both of us. 

47 minutes ago, jerrymahoney said:

Yes. You could've

 

Picture(d) yourself in a boat on a river
With tangerine trees and marmalade skies

Somebody call(ed) you, you answer(ed) quite slowly
A girl with kaleidoscope eyes

(1967)

Actually I didn't see too much but when you are 22 you go with it. I saw a man in a heavy coat in a cold climate who apparently was me in a past life. I wasn't a king or a knight or something. Oh well. $50.  Introduced through a swedish girl I met on the gili islands off Lombok. When your young the whole wide world seems to smile with you. But then when you get older you dream of nice apartments or houses in Thailand in which to retire.

My plan in less than 2 years, is Phuket e.g. Phuket town, or Pattaya - somewhere with a nice pool and gym like they show on youtube, or maybe a house on the way to Ranong or Chantabhuri or in the other direction past Hua Hin.  6 months there 6 months in Australia sounds most likely and best.  

Play this up loud, dust yourself off, keep off the booze and wait and see if you can get her to sign the divorce further down the track. No assets or kids so no worries.

Tainted Love / Where Did Our Love Go (Extended Version / Medley) - YouTube

18 hours ago, JackGats said:

Pity Mahler (and others) don't have the guts to have incels as guests for a change. Of course if they did, it would only be in order to make incels look ridiculous and obnoxious.

Not sure if you watch Bill Maher but it would be hard to find a host who takes on all comers like he does. He has often said he would like more guests who are Republican and others to the right, and when he does have them as guests he does take them on but treats them respectfully, but he has few takers. 

23 minutes ago, Walker88 said:

No notes. I had an eidetic memory when I was young, and still have flashes of it.

 

Galloway used an example (for online dating) of 50 men/50 women, and said the women all go after 4 of the men. Other times he used higher numbers. 96 was an error.

 

Like I said about Galloway, he is often controversial but he has many interesting views. He was spot on when TikTok first came out, predicting it would soon dwarf Facebook et al, as it is the fastest way to satisfy the Narcissistic urge, and short videos are about the length of the attention span of Millennials and teens.

 

I understand your point about working from home/office distractions/time with friends, but a lot of people lack the discipline to work as hard when there are no colleagues or bosses viewing them. Also, once school/university slips into the past, most people build their social network among colleagues in the office. Finally, Zoom meetings can never be as effective as office meetings. People in office meetings do 'read the room'. They read the reactions of people who are not speaking. They read the body language of their colleagues. People structure their own responses to what they perceive will be effective in making a point. It doesn't work the same way in virtual meetings, at least in my opinion. Also, ideas can pop into one's head at any time. Get an idea, go to a colleagues office and spitball it, or go direct to the supervisor. With work from home, one has to wait for the next Zoom time, or send an email or message which might not be read for hours.

I think the downside of working from home is probably more applicable to young people who need the social interaction, whether they know it or not, and for particular types of employment. 

In terms of discussing ideas, we have an internal messaging system that is more simple and direct than email, and some people feel freer to talk on the phone, than face to face. No one listening.

Most queries I have require experts who are often at a different office in Australia - I work for a big department.

It's 2022 - the genie's out of the bottle - the commute, small talk in the lifts, and sitting in an office under flourescent lights is so 2019. 

You must have been taking notes. It was a good episode. I felt those dating app stats sounded a bit out of whack i.e. that 96 per cent of men miss out. But could be I suppose..

I think people can be categorised  into those that need and like the office social interaction and those to whom it is a hindrance. 

The modern set up of no separate offices means having to hear conversations about the new TV show, football, long discussions about some ones new baby, etc. I am clearly more productive at home and save 2 hours each day in commute time. Don't need the chatter - happy to be social outside work. 

We are at 3 days at the office and 2 at home so better than nothing. 

I have Foxtel pay TV - a bit funny when it's on youtube before it's on Foxtel but there it is. 

3 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Please show me/us even one comment with someone writing she deserved that. I read lots of comments and I don't think anybody wrote she deserved it.

 

What lots of people wrote is that going out at night in Walking Street as a single lady has a huge risk of being touched - because that is what that street is all about. Smart ladies, who don't want to get touched, don't walk alone in that street in the middle of the night.

 

And why should it make any difference what nationality or age or whatever the guy was?

I take your point but don't concur. I have walked down the street once with my girlfriend and I wouldn't have considered I had the right to inappropriately touch any of the women. It's not a thing. 

1 hour ago, steven100 said:

There is not and cannot be maintenance cuts with airlines,   the reason being that baggage handlers are paid such a low wage with long hours and strenuous work conditions they cannot get staff.  This coupled with everyone trying to go on holidays at the same time has put enormous pressure on Jetstar and Qantas ....  the maintenance is a small part of the problem as all aircraft have scheduled services at certain flown hours accrued.  

It's not just baggage handling - there are significant issues with engineering which some say has been exacerbated by cuts and outsourcing over the years.

This is from one of Australia's largest papers notes the following on September 6 :

'Jetstar has been operating with half its long-haul fleet out of service because of maintenance and engineering issues, contributing to widespread cancellations that have affected thousands of customers’ international travel plans.'

It refers to the Four Corners program on ABC this week as follows:

'The ABC’s Four Corners reported on Monday night that some Qantas employees and unions were concerned that cost-cutting was putting its reputation for safety at risk.'

Jetstar planes grounded, thousands of Australians stuck abroad (smh.com.au)

This too:

Jetstar Bali passengers to fly Qantas after cancellations – Australian Aviation

“Unfortunately, we’ve had to cancel some services between Australia and Denpasar due to engineering requirements,” said Jetstar. 

They do have a long history and reputation for cuts and outsourcing sometimes for practical reasons such as Covid shutdowns but they have built a reputation for overall cost cutting. 

Coronavirus: Qantas adds to job cuts by outsourcing 2,000 roles - BBC News

This story isn't recent but shows they have over the years cut maintenance staff to lower levels than they had in the past - this is when they had the same Chief Executive Officer. 

More maintenance jobs go as Qantas continues engineering restructure – Australian Aviation

You make a point though that there may be a range of reasons for their issues, and they would of course have to maintain funding for maintenance by law, but it seems their maintenance and engineering is not keeping up with their flight schedule.