Wrwest

And, along with dark chocolate, I am told, good for my heart!

We agree on stopping illegal immigration ... a bipartisan Bill was resented, Trump killed it as he wanted to use this as a campaign issue. The USA is currently pumping oil at it highest rate under the Biden administration. Not starting wars? Right ... he stated that uses should be free to do as it wishes ... I do not view that as being in our interest. I also had issues with the Trump agreed to Afghanistan withdrawal (we might agree we should not have occupied ... I favored a devastating retribution for their allowing the 9/11 training camps but boots on the ground I opposed both there and in Iraq. Not knowledgable enough to weigh in on the TPP.

Appreciate your take on things but wish to relate my own reality. May not change your take on things but may cause a broader outlook. Paperboy at age 13, went to college on parental help and student (US gov't guaranteed loans (also working for some income. Went into teaching in a US SE state (region lowest paying in the US). Good & rewarding career over 41 years and as a colleague once observed an outstanding resume (Ha! OK, he actually said, I looked good ... on paper). Earned tenure in the public school system (middle and high schools). The last 27 years teaching undergraduate American and European History. Earned each juried academic rank, retiring as an Emeritus Professor of History on a sustainable monthly budget of $2400 use ($1570 of that from earned Social Security). Doo keep in mind SS retirement benefit is determined by the salary you were paid over your working career - SE states, lower salary = lower SS. Oh, it was my choice to teach in the region and, from my background the students benefitted from having an educator from outside the region with international study experience. But the reality is I cannot afford an earned working middle class retirement in the USA and so, here I am in a lower cost country. You understand, I agree with you that the earned SS is to keep the elderly from starving on the streets, but even with earned retirement savings, there is no guarantee of a middle class retirement in many western countries and so ... here we are.

While I confess to being glad to receive the USA Covid funds some time ago.

Ah, yes ... my only experience resulted in paranoia also. may have been influenced by wanting to sit close to the pretty friend I was with and having her hold my hand. At any rate ... I'll stick with being an oenophilist.

It does remind me of past days when alcohol sales were forbidden on Sunday. Also, where local counties (120 of them in Kentucky) decided whether they were "wet" or "dry". For "dry" counties you just went through the trouble of driving to the next "wet" county to stock up!. Oh, need I point out ... not Buddhist. The core teaching in either case was against using anything to dull you human senses. Ah, yes, I recall: "Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging and whosoever is there deceived is not wise". Personally, as I am not deceived, I do not apply the Biblical saying to myself. Ha!

Being, "vertically challenged" I always took a window seat. Quite correct about when facing the window/seat gap. What I did was use a blow-up neck pillow (so no packing issue) to supplement the supplied pillow.

By Kingdom of Thailand law, the majority of a buildings ownership is required to be owned by Thai citizens. So, foreign ownership must be kept at no more than 49%. Knowing this, and knowing of the relatively recent rush of Chinese, Russian, etc. condo purchases I would not suspect any discrimination other than that required by law.

Verbal threats by bullies are enough for me to reject. "You guys"? Too broad of a brush. I do not claim "every word out of his mouth is a lie". The fact is well established that he is a documented prolific liar.

Trump has proven he is a threat by directly ststing that we are in danger of being hurt if we supported Harris.

Yes, "spellcheck" got me again and I was remiss in not proofing more closely. Humble apology. We agree on not preferring a WW III. Boils down to when and where we find an aggressive action needing a like response. We could reflect on Finland (they perceived a greater current threat from Russia under Putin and thus joined NATO (along with Sweden). The Baltic States have also voiced concern. I do think this might have been averted by a clearer communication with Russia. A misstep ... I would agree. The line crossed for me was an armed invasion.

Very funny ... Democrats Abroad. More likely Trump and his ilk to denounce Mail-in ballots coming from foreign countries as a conspiracy to defeat him with Mail-in ballots.

Agreed, Mike. As a Boomer, I confess that relationships here are like stepping back to a time we were very familiar with. Male expected to provide the financial security and the woman's place to take care of her man. I realize that I open myself up to attack as a rejection of the current relationships in the West ... our generation fought through those changing roles for better or worse, the field is scattered with the divorces/broken relationships. The cultural difference of not automatically assigning older males to the dustbin, the reality of the financial position of the bulk of Thai females ... well, there are many things in our favor to bring us to Thailand in retirement. Personally, I am a very happy camper.

Preferably not Mr. Chamberland but the issue is not Ukraine, it is the unilateral decision to invade another sovereign nation.

I lean toward thinking it could be a squeaker but ... I am starting to think that this election will actually be an overwhelming defeat for Trump and his Project 2025 ilk. And this will be due to traditional Republicans voting against the current Trump party or not voting. Nope, not betting money or my life on it but my country is lost to me if my fellow citizens vote in the majority for Trump (he lost the popular vote by some 3 million in 2016, 7 million in 2020 and I am hopeful of 10 million+ in 2024).

I have little doubt that we would find reason to agree, however, I ask you to reflect on the fact that religious teachings heavily influenced the history of the USA and still does to this day. I tell you this only due to my having studied and taught European and American History as my life's work. I will spare both of us the vast documented materials supporting this.

On the legal basis that the US government or any legal government entities are forbidden to establish any religion on the citizens. This is a well documented historical founding principle. Any of the founders would be well aware of the religious discrimination, persecution and imprisonment that many of them personally witnessed in Europe previous to the USA founding principles. The only way to become a "people" was that the Puritans of Massachusetts, the Quakers of Pennsylvania, The Catholics of Maryland, the Church of England in Virginia and Jews throughout the colonies, were to have the individual belief as they wished but that none would be dictated for all through government.

And thanks be given to Trump for declaring the bi-partisan Bill be killed so he could use it as a political campaign issue ...

And that Trump wats to continue or enhance his 2017 tax cuts ...

We might both agree she is better looking in the nude?!

We have been staying on higher ground. Misjudged, so two nights were not needed out of the house but after having the warning flood horns go off in the wee hours last week .... Anyway, after the city center flooded we thought just maybe ... so went to check on the house in Saraphi this afternoon. The good news, some water in the Moo Baan but our house was high and dry ... bad news, looking at the water movement, it is coming in to the Moo Baan so ... we'll see. Last week it flooded up to the first of three steps (that would be level with the house flooring. It's a bungalow so no moving things "upstairs". If it is equal to last week or even to the second step I will count my luck stars. Sunny and dry today and in the week's forecast.

My Yamaha Aerox 155 digital unit was replaced by a shop here in Chiang Mai, if I remember it was about 4K baht.

Just my speculation but could he had been trying to impart the idea of a "stable baht" to allow for tourist budget planning?

Don't know ... ask a Trump supporter why they are voting for an aged man speakingverbage salad.

Hmm, protection money not paid to gang? Loan shark hired muscle?