GammaGlobulin

There is always Soylent Green, if we were to ever run out of agro crops. You are correct that countries having a homogeneous culture and population, ones that share same values, goals, and cohesion, are most stable. THIS is one of the MAIN reasons i REFUSE to live in the USA, anymore.... The USA's population is becoming less homogeneous, less culturally aligned internally, sharing fewer common goals, values, and now have practically zero cohesion, and this has resulted in increased insability, and, sometimes, even assassination attempts. Gimme that Ole' Time GHETTO RAP "music", so pervasive in America....and....I am out the door....FOR GOOD! Let the Mexicans, the South Americans, and the Africans in, I say! I will enjoy the ongoing DRAMA, but from afar. Its going to get nasty out there......

Yes. As I also stated. I like to shop at TOPS for the TOPS tuna. But, I will ONLY shop at two locations where I know the managers. And, the manager of the store always makes a huge difference in the feel of the store. I have known one of the managers for over 10 years. That's a long time! I like to shop at stores where I know the people serving me. Also, they like to laugh at my laughable passa Thai, which, in turn... Makes me even happier.

Well, I was actually...writing "from the heart". I don't have the money to waste on buying a new smartphone when my Note4 still works fine, mechanically. I am sure that there are many like me who feel just as I. You are correct that Marshmallow, as is, represents a security nightmare. However, I still believe there must be a cheaper solution, rather than buying a new phone. I do NOT use a phone for much of anything, other than to send a few text messages using LINE and WeChat. I rarely go out, except for exercise, and walking in the beautiful surroundings of my home. For walking, I use a Galaxy S3, which is in perfect condition, for ANKI use, and also for listening to Thai language tapes. My NOTE4 is used only for Line and WeChat. I cannot justify spending USD1200.00 just so I can use a BankApp for shopping. What I would like is some sort of 3rd Party app which would interface with my Thai Bank. But, I am fairly uninformed about Thai Banking Apps and Regulations, as you have rightly pointed out. I also have heard about some Swiss Banking Apps which are very good and secure. But, I wonder if these would work with Thai Banks, and I have no idea, and I should research this question. For example, here are a few Swiss Banking Apps and ratings: https://fintechnews.ch/virtual-banking/the-best-rated-mobile-banking-apps-in-switzerland/69780/#:~:text=In fact%2C the two highest,Zurcher Kantonalbank and Luzerner Kantonalbank. My main stumbling block is that the Browser-Based internet banking app offered by my Thai Bank is almost impossible to install, and I think that they know it, too. Their phone app works well. But, I have already given up on the bank's browser-based app for desktop computer use. It seems a shame to me that there is not some alternative, some third-party app which is well designed and secure, and easy to use, AND will interface with my Thai bank. Do you know of any? In the end, if I cannot use internet banking, then so be it. I will just continue to shop at Lotus and TOPS, and be happy in Thailand. Things could be a heck of a lot worse, after all.....

Trump is now even more dangerous...as I am sure you realize.

No. I rent by the decades. Decade to Decade.

No they will NOT. You, Sir, are dreaming. The only assassinations, or attempts, that anyone in the US cares about, much, is the killing of Kennedy, and the killing of John Lennon. I recall, when Reagan was shot, exactly where I was, in the kitchen, frying pork in a wok, just south of the city of Taipei. I heard it pretty much live, as I was listening to the "Armed Services" radio, which became ICRT. I was shocked at the time. But, the attempt did NOT change my voting behavior. Just another nutzo with a gun, and a man who should hot have had one. Your outrage, real or not, seems hyperbolic. I feel some sorrow for John Lennon. And, I feel sorrow for the way that Kennedy was killed, too. And, the killing of Robert Kennedy was so very graphic and terrible, that I could only watch it once. When Robert tried to lift his head, or when someone lifted his head for him....it became one of the cruelest memories of my life. These days, we expect shootings in the USA. Everybody has guns. And almost everyone seems to love guns. If a candidate gets shot with one of these guns, then my feeling is that the candidate should have been campaigning AGAINST gun ownership. But, Trump NEVER campaigned against limiting assault rifles and handguns. This would never have happened in Japan. So, whose fault is it if a candidate chooses not to campaign for ridding the USA of the very thing that kills him? It is his or her fault. And, he is a fool for not having acted sooner. No sympathy for people in power who do not help rid the USA of rampant gun ownership. We do not need guns in the USA. Japan does not have any use for guns in Japan. Still, your outrage, real or not, is quite palpable.

This attack on Trump is just enough to finally push him completely over the edge into full-blown psychosis. If you thought Trump was nutzo and irrational, and paranoid, in the past,... Then.. Hold onto your hats, Folks! After this attack, you are going see a completely new and even more rabidly deranged Donald, than we have ever seen before. Trump has always been unhinged. And now, all his screws are loose. The hinges have fallen off Trump's door, Folks. Trump will now become even more dangerous than he ever was before. Trump will begin to dwell upon the fact that just one inch might have changed history. And, he will see this as a Miracle from God, and God's, or the Universe's, Affirmation that Trump is the Savior of the World. Trump will become even MORE Grandiose. He will be.... Trump Times Two! Trump will find this lost inch as a Sign that Trump has been....Chosen by God, by the Universe, to Run the World... According to Trump!

Yes, an oldie but a goodie! I see no reason why developers cannot extend security, retroactively, back to Marshmallow. And, Marshmallow is about 9 years old, version 6.0.1. October 2015 is when I last updated my phone. Not that long ago, really. Kernel type was Monolithic (Linux) And, before that...I used Lollipop, which I called Lollipoop. I simply HATED that name! So glad when I could install the update for Marshmallow, yet still a disgusting name..... Must be some sort of KOREAN name, or Washington State name, or Oregon name. So, anyway, I am sure the developers could have provided a patch or something to ensure security for bank apps under Marshmallow. It's OK, though, because I would have never done any scanning of barcodes, a job that should not be assigned to me, my being the shopper, and not the store clerk.

In spirit. In spirit....I have ALWAYS been Thai, probably my entire life....

Tks for the reply. Interesting.

I ONLY care about Thailand. I do NOT care about what happens in other countries overseas.

My NOTE4 had a bank app. But, the Bank's bank app no longer supports my phone. Also, doing all this scanning is too much work for the shopper. The retailers are trying to get the shoppers to do their work for them. This is NONSENSE! I like it when I go to TOPS and the Manager says, Hi, Nice to see you. What can I do for you today! Then, I just ask the Manager to do my shopping for me, and find boxes for me to carry out my purchases. This is the minimal service I require if the store wants my business. If the store wants to scan bar codes, let them doing the scanning themselves, using the clerks they hire. Scanning products for checkout is NOT my job!

OK. Thank you again! Good solution for my PB cravings. Note: Taiwan also has a local company which makes great products from peanuts, such as peanut oil, peanut paste used for types of noodle dishes, etc. So, probably Thailand quality is similar.

This is because....in Thailand, Thai tastes have not yet become accustomed to garbage food, ultra-processed garbage. In Taiwan, Costco does quite well in several locations. I used to shop at the Costco near XiZhi, just north of Taipei. Lot's of cheese, processed meats, smoked meats, bologna, MAYO, HUGE Tubs of Skippy PB, and all that type of GLOP. Most of what Costco sells is packaged ultra-processed food, packaged in cans, jars, plastic containers. It is flown in from around the world, I guess. I stopped eating that garbage food sometime around 2005, when I moved to the East Coast of Taiwan, to a small fishing village, with only one shop selling beer, white Taiwanese liquor, and cigarettes. I have not had any ultra-processed food since 2005. And now, my tastes have changed. That junk is really disgusting, and it makes you fat, an ruins your arteries and heart, and gives you dementia, too, probably. We don't need no USA Junk Food here in Thailand. So, I shop at Lotus and TOPS, and I just buy a few things I need, in quantity. Canned tuna, oil, jasmine rice, white pepper, chili powder, vinegar, and a few more similar items. I get plenty of chicken breast at Lotus, and very good quality, too, and low cost, as well. I would not go to Costco if Costco came to Thailand....FOR SURE! Just like....I will never return to thee USA, either.

OK. Thank you VERY MUCH for your suggestion of the Thai brand, Tida. I hope it is just peanuts and salt, but NO SUGAR. If so, then this is a great solution for me. Skippy is disgusting and only fit for young children.

Money talks.... Everybody walks.... Still, one might love to know the machinations behind the scenes. Most likely, nobody cares anymore. It's just a curiosity. With their degree of respect for the law, something similar is bound to happen again, soon. Justice for the Rich is an oxymoron.... And, speaking of a pair of morons...... Oh, well....

Thank you!

Dear Folks, Although I am not a geek, or a gik either, I often enjoy listening to the geek perspective on the news, or on crimes in the USA, or, especially, on Craziness in the USA. I am an American, and so it is only natural for me, like most Americans, to enjoy hearing about crazy Americans, and crimes committed by crazy Americans. In this case, we have another great geek analysis from a great Geek who has about 1.5 million subscribers. Now, I suggest that you watch this video for Geeks, in order to better understand the PSYCHOLOGY behind this latest USA-based assassination attempt. Naturally, I am not pro-assassination in such a circumstance as this. However, this serves to remind us that unexpected events happen "suddenly", by definition. Life is like this. So far, personally, I have never been shot at. And, therefore, I don't have any clue as to what Trump might have been feeling the moment that projectile whizzed by his ear, seemingly just nicking the skin of his outer ear. This is why I depend upon geeks to help me imagine what it MIGHT HAVE been like. I enjoyed this video, and I hope you will, too. This geek is better than CNN and PBS, combined.... Personally, I have suffered much worse damage shaving in the mornings. Regards, Gamma

I am just glad they have no check-out girls like you at TOPS and Lotus!

Even if you were to raise your interest rates through the roof, lending money would still be unwise. As in Taiwan, I suspect that many casual lending is rarely repaid, in full. What we need is to bring back the Pound of Flesh rule, ....maybe....

Please clarify your thinking concerning the ways you see local Thai's being pushed out. Do you mean that property developers might buy land owned by local Thai's, and then build condos on the land, thereby causing local Thai's to lose generational land? Or, do you mean that tourists are good, and do not push local Thai's out, but that long-term-stay foreigners are bad because their presence pushes local Thais out? Not sure what you mean...exactly. But, I do agree that property developers need to have their activities severely restricted.

The reason I will not shop at Makro is that they refuse to accept my AmEx card, as I originally, and clearly, stated. This is the reason. IF, on the other hand, Makro refused to accept any and all credit cards, then this would seem like a fair policy to me. And then, I would shop at Makro. And, I would be glad to pay cash, as I also stated clearly. However, now that you have stated that Makro will accept some credit cards, but NOT my AmEx card, which is accepted by most major bigbox stores, around the world, then I will not shop at Makro. I have changed my position twice on this, in the course of writing/reading this Topic. And the single reason I have changed my position on this is due to changing information presented by various posters on this Topic. Therefore, it is certainly not I that have changed my position without logic. It is the evolution of this thread, and the changing consensus about whether or not Makro accepts credit cards, and which ones. Obviously, you can now clearly understand and agree with my cogent arguments and impeccable logic, after reading this further clarification.

Of course, I have a smartphone. I have a Samsung Note4, updated to the newest OS, Marshmallow 6.0.1. I have been using this smartphone since around 2014. It's a great phone. But, not sure how this might relate to purchases made at Makro or Go Wholesale....

This is NOT about Makro. This is about me, the shopper/consumer, and my freedom to choose where I shop, based upon goods and services provided by individual retailers. I rarely, if ever, think about Makro stores. The only reason I am thinking about Makro, this year, is that I, yesterday, noticed this Topic on TV. And, the only reason I noticed this Topic, too, is due to the fact that this Topic was recently moved to the Farang Pub.

OK. Thank you for the clarification. In this case, I will not shop at MAKRO. If Makro is not interested in making the effort to accept my AmEx card, then I will find it too much effort to visit Makro. And, no harm done to either party, in this case. Someday, maybe, Makro will change it's credit card policy to be more accepting of new payment methods.