Wrwest

The river is lined with restaurants along the river bank. In order to build a retaining wall the view of the river bank would be blocked. I should add, I have lived here in Chiang Mai since 2011 and have seen the downstream wall improvements but if extended into the core it would distract from the current river usage.

Interesting conclusion on your part but I judge that failing to pass on the first try, along with half those taking the test at that sitting does not equate that those Juris Doctorate testers were "dumb".

Done and dusted. Downloaded and printed out the ballot, verification statement and envelopes (internal "Security envelope for the ballot to be sealed in), and then the outer mail envelope, signed across the back. As my state does not allow electronic voting, my ballot was placed in the vote box at the door of the US Consulate here in Chiang Mai. the ballots will be placed in the "Diplomatic Pouch" for direct delivery to the USA. From the USA port of entry, the "Franked" (no postage needed) ballots will move through the US Postal System for delivery to the local voting district. I will be informed by email when my Absentee mailed in ballot is received. Absolutely vote, our participatory democracy is facing a clear and present danger by Trump and his Project 2025 ilk.

13 years retired here and counting. As you have learned, Thai banks will extend a secured use card but not a "credit card" for us. I maintained my US CapOne and Amex cards for use here. Use CapOne regularly and pay directly from my US bank account. US Credit Rating stands at 820 ... the rating is of no use to us here to get a mortgage loan nor a western type card extending "credit" (I think this does not hold true if you are on a work permit)..

Mother was killed in a traffic "accident" by a Domino Pizza Semi taking a curve way too fast causing a he'd on crash with my Father's car in 1986. Dad would die in bed of a heart attack in 1991 (Paternal line cholesterol issue).

True enough, although a reply to one of my posts observed he quite reading after the first 3 sentences. His point was that it needs to basically be reduced to a Twitter feed or people lose interest. True, the American attention span is what? 10 minutes" Ha! Pity my students of history who sat through hour long lectures/discussion of American or European History (American survey undergrad courses). Yep, concentration for more than a "sound bite". Yep, uphill battle with the average reading ability at the 7th- 8th grade level.

They have been woking on this to the South in the city. Problem, if you wa;ll the river at the city core ... distracts/severly handicaps the riverbank tourist area.

Vaxed or mandatory testing to protect others, I could not agree more. We have concrete evidence of the result of the Trump/Vance approach to Covid ... I remember the refrigerated trucks overflowing with too many corpses' to bury,

Because Nebraska's way of allowing Electoral college representation is more reflective of the democratic will of the voters. Other states should recognize this but the political parties will resists as they see a better advantage in the way things are. Thus we have what? Four or five elections (Trump lost the popular vote in 2016 & 2020) where the American citizen voters have voted in the majority for one candidate and the Electoral College or Congress has chosen the candidate reaching the minority of votes.

Such a sad comment based on such ignorance or purposeful false points.

Far too many folks seen unable or unwilling to recognize that an individual can actually separate their emotions from an intelligent thought process. Absolutely I oppose Trump in his being, and his documented history. Could I carry out an historically accurate study of him? Sit on a jury to weigh only the evidence presented? Yes I can. I hasten to point out that I would not be chosen to sit on that trial jury ... too much education, the defense would know that I might be able to influence my fellow jury members by the sheer ability, being a retired educator, to explain my reasoning so that all could understand.

Not passing the bar on first attempt ... want to cite the documented statistics on this? Kamala and language? Having been introduced to the language, history, culture of seven counties (fluent only in my Native American English), I have an appreciation for those like the VP who know more than their native language. Are to speculate as to Trump being bi or multilingual?

Agreed.

As long as this clear and present danger exits, his threat to my country will be taken dead seriously.

Foreign or domestic trolls do not warrant our attention. My Absentee Ballot mailed today!

Ha! Possibly since we are both educated and recognize we live in a world of complexity.

For non US citizens here, allow me to share my experience with US voting over my 77 years. While voting in my local voting district, ... I would show up on Election Day at the designated local place designated before hand as to where I could vote (no, not possible to then go and vote elsewhere or to vote in any other local polling place). Once inside there were both representatives from the government County Court Clerk's Office to oversea the procedure. There were also neighbors representing the Republican Party and the Democrat Party as "poll watchers" (I do not know if any other political parties were represented). When it was my turn, I approached the table where the Voter Registration Book was. I had to sign next to my previous signature from the last time I voted. Signatures were matched. As I say these were poll workers from my local voting district and so I was recognized by several people as being "me". Then I entered the voting booth. You pulled a handle and the curtain closed behind you so you could vote in private. After marking the ballot, pulling the handle again, opened the curtain and registered the ballot in the machine (which had been checked both before the election and would be checked afterward for accuracy). Never mind the "what ifs" ... I said I was sharing my experience. Every state controls elections restricted only that they cannot mess with the federal government office vote. (I say this as Arizona, for example has screwed things up ... they decided to require proof of citizenship, but that can only apply to state offices, not to the vote for federal offices). For the last 13 years I have lived in Thailand and have thus voted by "Absentee Ballot". I just downloaded my Ballot material from Kentucky. There is an affidavit where I had to sign that under penalty of perjury, I was a US citizen, among 4 other things (not a felon, over 18, etc). I was given instructions as to marking my choices for candidates on the ballot, & voting on proposed Kentucky Constitutional Amendments (one of which was to require presentation of proof of US citizenship ... as it is already against US law to vote if you are not a US citizen, I recognize this as a political ploy and repetitious requiring more "regulations" which I oppose unless there is a need. Then, the ballot is to be sealed in an inter "security envelope". That and the affidavit is to be placed inside the pre addressed envelope to be sent to the County Court Clerk where I had previously voted since 1965. The outer envelope is "franked" meaning if in the US mail, no postage is needed (if mailed from Thailand through Thai Post or UPS, etc. you are to pay the postage). Fortunately, I live in a city with a US Consulate, thus I can drop my envelope in the box at the Consulate entrance (there is always a guard there when the box is present). The Consulate will place all ballots going to the USA in the "Diplomatic Pouch" meaning the US government will deliver the ballots to the USA port of entry, then the US postal service takes care of regular first class mail delivery. I will check with my County Court Clerk's Office to assure my envelope is delivered. Mail in ballots, including Absentee Ballots from overseas will be opened only after the Kentucky voting polls close (that is my understanding so final vote counts are delayed until all votes are counted. Bottom line folks ... I am an American citizen with DNA present from before the country's founding. I trust in the basic integrity of all those I have cited here as involved in handling my vote. And yes, that means even in a heavily red state. Foreign and domestic provocateurs be damned.

60+ independent court cases disagree with you but, hey, as you say believe what you want. I think I'll go with the court cases where the "evidence" was presented along with those amicus briefs which only stated they thought there was reason to look closer. The decisions of each of those judges, some appointed under Trump, found there was no widespread counting of invalid ballots.

Yes, I have transferred $2200.00 a month for near 13 years now. Clears the 65K hurdle even now but I did count on the bit extra to use as a cushion for extras.

The "proof" was presented in 60+ court cases ... only the accusations did not present any proof of the alleged win by Trump.

Some seem to think, requiring all to carry a national identity card, Passport, state Driver's License should be required. After all, some states (Arizona comes immediately to mind) require this to be allowed to vote for state offices (they cannot stop voting for federal office as that requires Congressional action).

Yes, Democrats show their true colors ... intelligence. Both this bill and the Trump supported voting Bill rider in the funding debate were nonsensical, in that they are presented only for emotional campaign gain but having no substance as both this criminal offense and voting offense are already addressed in US law.

We gave up the Germanic personal affront 9and early trial by combat = god will decide the innocent by choosing the winner) for the English system where the legal affront is against all. Thus, it is the government, not the victim's family that brings charges against the perp.

I have to appreciate how difficult is is for far too many who look for simple answers out of purposely wanting a simple answer or incapable of dealing with complex issues. They want a more secure world of yes/no, right/wrong answers ...

Tug, you should already have noted that I am of the same mind. However, reparations is defined as: "the making of amends for a wrong one has done, by paying money to or otherwise helping those who have been wronged." So, reparations but noe necessary any direct payment which I would oppose. I share my reasoning as I again think we agree on much. None of us living today were alive let alone responsible for things that had been accepted in the past.This has been driven home personally as I researched my family DNA. Quakers, small farmers in 1600s New Jersey and the documentation confirms they had owned slaves.