GammaGlobulin

Not ALL Thai. Just those in the retailing sector. And others. Also, in the customer service sector, most assuredly, such as hotline services, etc. Maybe they do not understand that English is the de facto Lingua Franca of the business world, and the travel industry, the retailing industry, and the export industry, and some other industries. I would be OK if the lingua franca were Chinese, but it's really not, and even in China it is not, when the Chinese want to sell their products abroad, or provide good service at hotels, for example.

I agree with you. I will not shop at HomePro again, if I can possibly avoid doing so. Yes, and it is true that HomePro staff try to be helpful. However, the question is: a. Are they well trained enough to actually prove advantageous to the average shopper at HomePro? b. Anytime the untrained HomePro staff might make an error, then it is the customer who pays the cost, most likely in lost time. c. Maybe the staff are there to enjoy the AirCon, and to lounge about, and to chat with their collegues? d. IF HomePro prices are higher than they might otherwise be, and if this might be due to the excessive number of staff, then some customers might prefer to have HomePro whittle down staff numbers. e. Also, I have found that it is the staff that often get in the way of any task that I am trying to complete. They continually look at me and ask me what I am doing there. Or, what I might be looking for, when even I am not sure exactly what I am seeking. But then, when I actually THINK of something that I am looking for....and when I ask the closest staff, they invariably reply that they do not know. They just say....Ti Noooooon, Ti Nooooooooon. (Over there, Over there, it's Over there.....somewhere.) Just one of my observations about shopping there which might not be entirely accurate, from week to week, as new staff replace existing staff.

We should be most concerned about the ongoing destruction and degradation of the local environment. Many tourists come from countries where the environment is completely trashed, and where the environment may never recover.

The answer to your question, as with all other important questions, can be found in the Bible: The many staff you find in Thailand are there to comfort thee. So obviously ! Therefore, please continue to read your Bible, and all shall be made clear to thee, in time.

It's the cuisine.

What goes through MY mind is.... a. Chiang Mai is the very best culture I have ever had the pleasure to enjoy. And, maybe it's just the Lanna in me. b. I enjoy the smoking season because: When it's so smokey that the data goes off the charts.... THEN... I have no guilty regrets about remaining indoors, seated at my computer, instead of outdoors hiking in the mountains, and sweating like a pig. c. Everybody knows that the Farang in Chiang Mai are smarter than the Farang living anywhere else in Thailand, on average. Just check the data. Or, just look at what the Farang are wearing in Pattaya compared to what the Farang are wearing in Chiang Mai. c2. Or, just read the Chiang Mai Sub-forum, and compare it to the Pattaya Sub-forum. The difference in intelligence is like....Night and Day. No contest, even. d. Honestly, I have never loved living in Asia as much in my 45 years here, as I now do living in Chiang Mai. I guess, maybe, judging from "Point d" that one must be way above average IQ to understand the many blessings we receive after moving to the best city in Thailand, which is Chiang Mai. e. I hate the way newcomers (Farang) can't even pronounce the "Chiang" in Chiang Mai. Total morons, in my view.

Dear Readers, Does it seem increasingly clear to you that paywalling is bad for everyone? For example, I recently found a link to Business Insider and clicked on it, only to find this garbage: Note: If you wish to spend your money on the BI Paywall, then please click on this link, and get your credit card ready: https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-1-million-giveaway-legal-questions-2024-10 And so what was the net effect of this stupidity? a. I did not read the article. Anyway, probably an asinine and best-forgotten article, in the first place, and so I did not miss a thing. b. Business Insider lost a reader, me, because I will not click on BI articles again. c. Business Insider made no Baht, either. =============== And, what do smart people (academics) say about paywalling? a. For one thing, this practice limits free exchange of information, something which is apparent to even a child in elementary school, one child that might benefit from further reading. b. And then, you have academic thinkers who say this about paywalling... https://www.csulb.edu/cob-graduate-programs/faculty-and-research/article/newspaper-paywall-a-profitable-strategy#:~:text=While paywalls brought a success,newly generated digital subscription revenue. You can do what you like and just PAY-UP on Paywall sites. But I NEVER again will make such a foolish choice. A few years ago, I paid for the NYT, but then, I got scammed when they suddenly began charging me more, without asking my permission. What? They think it's so very easy to scam me, an American, and a college grad, and one who read the paper-printed version of the NYT beginning in high school, when a subscription was required for us students? I will not pay. I hope that you will not pay. Who do these publishing houses and scammers think they are? Anyway? Sometimes I feel ..... What are the words? I dunno.... PO'd? Yeah. Pissedoff. That's how I feel. What about you? Regards, Gamma

Maybe so. The United States has NEVER before had a Black Prez. If she were elected, then Jordan would be the First Black President of the United States, without doubt. She was also not a big fan of Nixon, apparently.

China is facing a population crises. The only thing keeping the US from facing the same problem is and will be the influx of immigrants into the US. The only thing is... The US must still be selective in the Quality of Immigrants it allows in, just as Thailand is doing the same when choosing which Quality Tourists arrive here in Thailand. Personally...and HONESTLY, with zero humor in this case: I would admit as many Chinese into the US as wished to emigrate from China to the USA. But still, I would be very selective in my choice of Chinese individuals and families admitted to the US to become permanent residents and eventually US citizens. I really DIG Chinese Culture, Chinese work ethic, Chinese reverence for Family and Education. In fact, I love the Chinese so much that I would actually PAY them to emigrate to the USA. The USA can use all the good Chinese families it can attract. And then, I would provide the top Chinese students with FREE TUITION to any Ivy League school, or to MIT or to CalTech, up through PhD level education, and PostDoc, too. Honestly, this is what I would do. Why should we let China keep all this Talent and Social Capital, anyway? I am SURE that ELON would agree with me.

Which of these women would make the best US president? What are the reasons for your views? Please don't worry whether or not any one of these women are alive. This is not the point of this Topic. The idea is to state the qualities that you consider essential for a female US president. And then, perhaps, extrapolate from your thinking about the qualities these women possess, to assess whether there are any living women that might prove to be the best US Prez that the United States has had in a very long time. Of course, it's possible that some of these women might still be alive. However, this is not important nor essential for this analysis. a. Warren b. Thatcher c. Bush d. Dole e. Harris f. Roosevelt g. Golda Meir h. Unknown Quantity Feel free to add one more... At your discretion. So, which of the above might make the best US president in this year, 2024, through 2028? And why.... If one, or more, of the above might not be a US citizen, then this is also irrelevant for the purposes of this thought exercise. And, may the best woman win! Best regards, Gamma IMPORTANT NOTE: Please ONLY consider individuals who are actually women, biologically speaking. In other words, TWO X chromosomes, and no XY pairs allowed!!!! (Thank You.)

Yes. The SHAFT of his Club was legend.

I actually PREFER it this way. Not knowing where I will end up has never bothered me. Even if I knew where I would end up, I would probably prefer to be elsewhere, anyway.

Yes. It's a King Cobra...

IHMO....one should keep these caveats well in mind...

Definitely NOT a waste of time because.... a. Sichuan Peppercorns and salt are GREAT for roasting suckling lamb, either in China or in Western countries. Also, if you prefer cumin seeds, instead of Sichuan Peppercorns, then please do. If done right, the lamb is so tender that it almost melts in one's mouth. b. Also, I am now on the lookout for good recipes that can be consumed by those undergoing dental implant procedures, and wish to avoid excessive jaw action. And, someone here thoughtfully suggested minced pork with cellophane noodles which I know will be good. (My favorite soup includes finely minced pork combined with glass noodles formed into small 'luuk chin') c. No doubt, there are many here who will find such suggestions helpful.

I only know Coward, and not Gallagher. I do know Oasis. But, they are NOTHING compared to the Great Coward, for sure....

It's OK. If they REALLY want to have their Cake and Eat it.... Then who am I to stand in their way?

As you say....

I admit it. But then... Who is the fool, I wonder. Still, my hat is off to the true believers...even though... My hat has never been off before the One and Only God.

Actually...No. You see, I have never cooked Western Food. If anyone were to find me in the kitchen, at anytime, then I would be cooking SiChuan Food, if I were cooking anything. SiChuan Food is very simple and fast. Just... SiChuan Peppercorns Salt And....basically... That's IT !!! For sure, I never cook anything other than SiChuan Food. This is why I asked about the Tuna stew. However, I never buy cheese. So, this is liable to present a problem. Corn, I do not eat either, unless it's New England Sweet Corn. Peas are great. And, of course rice is my favorite. Also, I wonder what it might be like to just dump three cans of Tops Tuna Steak into a blender. Pour the result into a slow cooker. Then add the peas that you mention. Plus maybe some ginger and vinegar. No Cabbage though...(I'm sick of cabbage, by now.). I have Tuna stockpiled, and so I will always use one can per day. Pork: I like the idea of finely minced pork, stewed in a crock-pot with those Adzuki beans. But, in this case, I would also be willing to add cabbage, which would complement the Adzuki beans. There are really many variations that one can think up, ones that are both tooth-less friendly and delicious, I imagine. Fortunately, I will never be toothless during this dental sojourn of mine. I just need about 5 implants done. And this means 9 months of waiting before I can really dig into my food, once again. The first meal I have after implantation will probably be Roast Pork with KhaoNiao. Looking forward to it, in fact...!!!

Did you say TUNA? i am BIG on Tuna.

GREAT.... It's food ideas such as these that I need to be planning. I never eat potatoes. But all else is fair game for the pot.

All that is Earth originally came from the stars. And it is only fitting that Earth should be consumed by a star. Sometimes I ponder upon the reality that even we humans are stardust.

When shooting at the range, always use a reliable backstop. And, never fire straight up in the air.

I suggest you buy two more condos, one with a quiet room, and another with a view. Then, spend alternate days in each. And then, after you have formed an opinion, share it with the forum.