GammaGlobulin

Maybe, Central America. The Mexican culture is very big on Angels. Remember that great film, Under the Volcano. Plenty of souls walking around on the Day Of The Dead. And, remember what once was a great city: The Once Great City of.... Los Angeles

He is saying that he can picture any Englishman as an Enrico Caruso? Far From the Madding Crowd, and alone with Friday and Crusoe, on some remote isle. But, now, no more. Travel has become prohibitively expensive for the likes of you and me. In my view, it is best to just choose some place, no matter how remote, as long as you love it, add then just remain in one spot, and enjoy a much more stress-free, as well as much lower-cost, existence. This is what I do. I will not spend money to buy things, or go places, based on artificially created need. Let Madison Avenue's propaganda be read and acted upon by those far more gullible than I. Save money on airfare, and then spend that money to create a personal utopia of your own.... Far From the Madding Crowd of Phuket and BKK. Travel is NOT fun. Travel is stressful, expensive, and no longer worthwhile. Travel for pleasure is no longer what it once was. And, this is the Myth that the travel industry is still trying to sell you.

Interesting that you should mention Straw Dogs. Straw Dogs (1971) is still Sam Peckinpah's all-time Masterpiece. Straw Dogs was filmed in some amazing locations. Also, the rape scene was shortened and lengthened several times, principally due to the fact that it was seen as important to ensure that the audience knew that Amy was in no-way enjoying it. If some might not know what it is like to NOT be welcomed in a place like the one you mention, the Straw Dogs scene you refer to is most likely this one (the pub scene): One of the greatest films of that generation. The film, at the time, did not get proper credit from critics of the NYT, and other rags. Now, in hindsight, even those critics must admit just how great Peckinpah's film truly was. It was his masterpiece.

a. I think that the crowd may have interfered with his concentration. b. When competing in the HIGH-dive event, concentration is key. c. If one were to lose one's concentration, this could cause a bad landing, and then result in serious injury.

I agree. It seems to me that this photo keeps morphing. A few minutes ago, I thought that it was an image of several people sitting in chairs, on a beach, looking out to sea. Now, the image has morphed into this. Maybe this surreal look is due to the effects of Thai street food, as you say. Anyway, someone has achieved a very interesting effect in this photo. Quite dream-like, as if halfway between reality and some other zone. During the Hot Season, I eat street food, but only very close to the university. So far, very few issues have I experienced.

Yes. Bad timing. He should have chosen 5:00AM. Less of a crowd. At dawn is always the preferred time.

I agree. Beautiful form. With a bit more practice, he might have won Olympic Gold in the very-high diving event. Sad, because he seems to have been in quite good physical shape... (before his dive, of course.) Too much stress at the moment. I would guess that a helping hand, at the right moment, might have averted this calamity.

Yes. Do the Hemingway if you want to play it safe. (Still, poor girl! She met a very tragic and tortuous end, at her own hand. Such irony!)

Please let me clarify, once again: The term "Caucasian" is already obsolete, even though sometimes still used in places like the USA, etc. The only reason I used it here in this Topic is that it is part of the Thai idea of Farang being white, which I think might not be entirely correct. But this does not mean that I do not enjoy being called a Farang, because I do; I DO! Also, is the population of India Caucasian? No, in the sense that

a. No matter what her family might say, the Medical Examiner, Joni Skipper, rules the manner of death: Suicide b. In addition, as many have commented elsewhere, her family members were not supportive of this poor woman. With a family like hers, in fact, then who needs enemies? I think it is time for us to have more sympathy, and feel more empathy, for women like this who are so very obviously VICTIMS of their environments, beginning at such an early age. We just gotta keep in mind that: Human behavior is shaped by and is a result of .... a. Environment b. Genes (both the genetic inheritance, as well as the expression of these genes due to environmental factors) c. The very concept of some sort of "Free Will" is entirely bogus. In fact, our bodies are just tubes within tubes. And, our tubes are guided by an electro-chemical machine which is not affected by any nonexistent "soul" or "spirit". Whatever we might think we "know", our own consciousness is a result of electro-chemical processes which are not controlled by "Us" or "God". Perhaps if we all could better understand behavioral causes, ie that we do not have "free will" to decide our action, EVER, then we might be able to feel less critical of the behavior of others. Of course, even this understanding is a product of electro-chemical processes beyond our control. Therefore, asking anyone to understand these simple truths is a fool's errand. Either we understand or we do not. And this understanding is beyond our control, obviously.

I would suggest that you, Sir, spend more time reading BOOKS, especially books which discuss Set Theory, Venn Diagrams, and Formal Logic. Let me make this the least painful for you to understand the simple logic of my statement which you mistakenly believe is not logically correct: I said that Farang are Caucasians. I said that Indians are Caucasians. And, I stated that Indians are not considered to be Farang. Instead, they are considered to be classified as Kaeks by Thai people. You seem to think that this obvious logic is somehow impossible. So, to bring the logic down to the level of a Two-Year-Old, please consider this example: a. Humans are primates. b. Baboons are primates. c. Humans are not baboons. (With a few exceptions, it seems, here on TV) NOW.... Do you finally.... GET it????? Here is a VENN diagram for you. Knock yourself out, trying to figure it out. Then, call me in the morning....

Taiwan is now more into cremation. Although, this does not mean that the corpse does not deserve a good makeup job. However, traditionally, people on the island of Taiwan, especially the men on Taiwan, enjoyed their bone washing holiday, comming once each year. I recall that entire families would head for the hills, with food and wine, to drink with their ancestors. Often, they would return home, driving plastered, after having downed much rice wine. I was always invited by my close friends to attend the bone washing holiday festivities. I would recommend that you not get into a drinking competition with these types....because... You are bound to get drunk under the table, in most cases. So, for Taiwanese, it's a very important custom to wash your bones once a year. And, the makup need be applied, only once, and not annually. .

I hope that she gets the help she needs. It is tragic when this happens to those who are less resilient due to infirmity or advanced age.

Actually, I believe that you are correct. Before that guy Tim left, the news was presented in an intentionally jocular and facetious way. IMHO, this is still true.

If you are referring to River,...then yes... Very tragic.

Sorry. I read this comment: "I think polished concrete looks great - the wife doesn't. My original idea was to have a polished concrete floor, in our new build, I contacted a member here who had got some local village builders to do his, and it looked great." And mistakenly attributed it to you. Sorry. By the way: The staining I am referring to, unwelcome staining, is discussed in the YT video that I linked, above. Apparently, some liquids, and chemicals, when coming into contact with the polished cement surface, can cause unwelcome staining of the concrete. Then, there is also the issue of cracking in the surface of the polished concrete. Still, polished concrete is very much aesthetically pleasing when it is as it should be, and maintained or protected properly.

The electric power here failed just 2 seconds after I pushed the submit button... Tree branches blew against power lines causing them to light up in a small blaze. Still fine, and seeing the rain was worth it. I just hope the power will be restored before it gets too hot in here, and before the humidity goes through the roof. The weather this year has been among the hottest I recall in Chiang Mai. No problem for me, but the rain is a very pleasant change. And, all living things require water.... Especially, mangoes.

Thank the gods for the rain, this year! This past hot-season's heat, this 2024, has been one record books. I know that I feel better, right now, looking outside my picture window at the buckets of rain now pouring down and cascading off my roof. It's a new day! Things can only become better. I plan to do a lot more exercise this raining season. How will you, too benefit? Best regards, And, now in the rain....., Gamma Note: I do not even care if the power fails for awhile!..... Coming down in BUCKETS!

Frankly, I must wholeheartedly concur with your choice. Obvious choice. Absolutely.

After listening to the interview: a. We will have one company, and two different publications (or domains). b. One corporation and two products? c. Sort of like... 1. Fanta (The Orange One) 2. And, AseanNow, (Formerly known as Thaivisa): Choose your poison? No. I will continue to just carry on, as usual, on ThaiVisa... Forever.... Stay calm. Carry On......

I would like to take a moment to address this issue concerning what is necessary to qualify as being a Farang: a. First, there is no space-time continuum requirement necessary to remain a Farang. b. This means that once a Farang, always a Farang. c. We know that a Farang is a Caucasian, "a person of white race", according to the Royal Institute Dictionary. d. Also, some Caucasians are not Farang. Take the example of someone from India, who is not considerred to be a Farang, but rather to be a Kaek. e. Then we have black Farang, but that is a whole different can of worms. f. But, here is a case study which helps to clarify: 1. When I am in Thailand, people call me Farang. 2. When I travel to Japan, my Thai friends email me, and they address me as Farang. 3. When Farang tourists are boarding a plane bound for Thailand, they are Farang passengers. 4. When they return to their home country, they never cease being Farang travelers who have visited Thailand. 5. I will ALWAYS be a Farang. Also, no sort of surgery, such as a sex change operation, can alter the fact that I was born a Farang. 6. I do not mind being called a Farang. And, my Thai friends say I am a "Good Farang". g. In conclusion, there is definitely ZERO space-time continuum requirements on being a Farang. One could be a Farang both in Thailand and also standing on the South Pole. The reason I am willing to devote extra time to this definition/clarification of the term Farang is that I believe that all anthropological terminology should be clear and concise and UNAMBIGUOUS, too. Please refer to this Wikipedia article for further information on the derivation, etymology, and usage of the term Farang: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farang Please note that, according to the above information, Farang can be subdivided into the Black Farang and White Farang. There are further subdivisions which can be considered slang and insulting, but I have never heard these in real life in Thailand, or elsewhere. Addendum: Furthermore, it is often the case that Thai people will read news stories about white people in foreign lands, on the internet for example, and it is also true that Thai people refer to the foreign white people in the news as Farang. Therefore, I believe that my use of Farang in the Headline is ENTIRELY correct and appropriate. I know, after more careful consideration, that you will agree with my position. Farang is an important word. We need to get it right in our minds!

Thank you for your input, however, I respectfully disagree, and I maintain that the arrest and needless shaming of this poor woman was directly responsible for her subsequent downward spiral and ultimate self-offing. In addition, I actually made no deep dive to find the video, as you suggested. In fact, here on the forum, a different contributor has recently uploaded several Farang-Sex-in-the-Sea news stories. AND, after reading those news stories, and searching for more information about the news stories posted by the Asean Now contributor, I found the YT video concerning the sad case I posted here in the OP. Also, I found further facts and details offered by this reliable, mainstream media outlet: Again, it is my opinion that the shaming of this woman that happened on a beach in Georgia was the cause of her death spiral leading to a horrific death, one which was not an instant death, but in fact a death of prolonged suffering as she probably staggered from room to room during her final throes. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12811033/Christina-Revels-Glick-arrested-masturbating-beach-suicide.html I believe this is an example of cause and effect. And the cause is the very prudish society which we all know exists in Georgia. The Eastern Seaboard of America has always been prudish, and it has been prudish since the days Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote about in his great exposé, The Scarlet Letter. I am just glad I live in Asia, and not in the New America of this present century. The woman in question was a college grad, and seemed like a nice person who had been gainfully employed with a nice house and a BMW. What happened? As I said, it's a Cruel World, and NOT a Cool World, out there....Folks. I say, RIP.

The Thai Tickler ?

I understand. However, the Original Poster also stated that he loves polished concrete floors, and may install and polish concrete floors, provided that he can convince his wife that this will have a good look for their home. One thing to keep in mind, I think, is that some have stated that polished concrete can stain fairly easily and under some conditions. I would worry about staining of concrete flooring, and therefore might opt for wood flooring unless I could solve this potential problem.

Keep calm, and carry on... Edvard