Nojohndoe

Well I guess it's nice at times to have "friends" who know the scale of the/ a market.

No. Nor for me neither!

Rinse and repeat... Something I have never understood in Thailand is the absence of or minimal storm water reticulation in a country that annually experiences monsoon downpours. Major highways are so often made flat and level with no designed channels to take water away and the grass verges allowed build up above the road surface which results in the road itself becoming a canal until some point where the water finds an exit. Extreme hazard at night.

I can understand the fury behind the objection. I doubt DHL will return the item and the vendor will reimburse in/as consequence. Out of pure curiosity just how much does a pulsating gear shift knob actually cost?

While I can agree there are times when arrogance of assumed superiority are worth challenging.

Presses charges ? If the source is known ?

If a true feral cat not likely. But a stray cat that allows you to pick up very likely. All cats will instinctively attempt to stalk and kill with no intent to eat. Taking a cat "away" to some place will not do anything to stop that other than to possibly/probably subject it to an unknown environment victim to competition from other sources that it had previously avoided . I can understand that the "out of sight ..out of mind" is a common thing. You fed it. It now owns you .

What bragging? On that point my daughter has also attended University although not as acclaimed. It is also somewhat irrelevant that your boy did not originate in Bangkok unless you consider his singular related experience of life as a pure example of actual origins as verbatim. No doubt you are proud to have supported his opportunity regardless as well as having instilled a degree of your personal expectations. If by using the term "breaking bread" means social intimacy then yes it is an almost daily experience including sharing discussion as well as with a meal. Pre covid there were many other enjoyable occasions of impromptu communal gatherings that progressed well into a night. The nearest mini mart or equivalent to my location is 20 kms and if I were to go to expect "interaction" I am sure it would be limited well short of significant "insight" other than witnessing the quite depressing addiction of people to "convenience" that has insidiously extended to rural towns. In conclusion I am not apologetic in saying that you possess limited validity in dismissing my opinion from a position of "zero" living experience.

It would also mean that those lands would be legitimately saleable. Whether or not it has been a deliberate hindrance to prohibit non chanote land from being sold or gifted to other than immediate family members the fractional familial share of such land has now made it increasingly redundant in terms of individual practical value while desire to acquire by any means has increased the degree rather than the volume of corruption in the government department accorded a higher level than any other.

So a big city urbanite? I daily interact with many different members of the community some of them farmers, some of them teachers, local government, provincial government, medical, police, army,traders, travelers and loan sharks. In explanation of that my wife operates a rural restaurant of some trusted renown.

As a person married and living with my Thai wife for 20 years in Isaan, with children and grandchild I believe I have gained a degree of insight as to the way of things and the short comings of them in specific instances.

I am sure you have little or no experience of the family dynamics of rural Isaan. The farmers are often said to be land rich, money poor and many are. However they too, happily or willingly maybe or not, strive to save face in bailing out the unnecessary debts of their children rather than explain the absence due to repossession of the shiny new car that was such a wonderful symbol of urban living success on last visitation on a holiday weekend . In recent times that has increased been due to unemployment which is far from their own doing. As for fewer people going hungry I am not so sure unless perhaps in the developed world. I agree that large scale farming is more efficient in terms of output due to mechanization which also increases rural unemployment and creates more urban drift. Cheaper or not must be paid for. The credit trap so readily and optimistically accepted by many vulnerable people is becoming a credit squeeze that will become taken advantage of. I could adopt a bloody minded opinion and say it serves them right but I prefer to have some empathy for the people I live near.

I had a very old Toshiba have a screen meltdown like that while in storage ! Very strange I thought.

Oh ! Ok.

The situation opens a very big back door for Corporate acquisition and large scale farming. What may seem big money per each small plot to destitute farmers is cheap on the grand scale. There are still many aged farmers who have taken on debt on behalf of wanna be hi so younger generations who desired a shiny new 4x4 pickup to park in Bangkok and when unable to pay the credit convince the parent's to hock the family land chanote to the Bank to save family face. Then let poor old Dad try impossibly to pay the Bank. Have seen and heard of it over and over here in Isaan .

Only once in a Bangkok "Authentic Italian Restaurant" and the Carbonara was loaded with red chillies !

It was the tragedy of the prescription of thalidomide that brought about major changes in the testing and trialing of new pharmaceuticals and especially greater caution related to pregnancy. Yes known to be pregnant women were excluded in initial trials and once given emergency use status there also have been numerous pregnant women who have inadvertently been vaccinated and to date no harm has been detected . Now specific trials are being undertaken involving pregnancy even while the advisory is to be vaccinated due to greater risk developing severe symptoms versus no noted evidence of risk from the vaccines more so than any other person. It remains a personal choice.

So how or why is it that the "complicated " visa process still leaves Thailand "suitable" for a month or two visit?

There was an accident. Followed by sightings of a naked woman. What caused the accident? Her?

Would that plan involve de-legislation to remove more barriers for "big money" interests to increase monopolistic opportunities?

https://www.immigration.go.th/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/quota_detail_en.pdf There is also the quota issue for each and any nationality.

It used to be said that after 3 consecutive extensions of stay a person was eligible to apply for residency. Having attained residency status allows for application for a work permit rather than it be a prerequisite.

Why the perception that you are so trapped and confined ? The fear you speak of is generated by those who find it to their advantage that individuals subscribe to it and in so doing assist in it.

Naturally. Private negotiation often works to achieve mutual satisfaction. Allegedly

Am looking to buy a low budget price laptop/notebook either new or refurbished. Looking at refurbished ones the prices seem very much the same as new HP or Fujitsu eg . Intended use is 14 year old for education and not gaming. I know people have preferences and opinions so am seeking some degree of consensus. Could not find a "Computers etc" category so hope where the topic is showing up is ok.