TroubleandGrumpy

Not to the same level - Trump is older and slower - but Biden is clearly suffering early onset dementia.

No - but you will waste ours with illogical arguments and topic distractions.

Very strong woke thinking there - atypical mentality of the far left - either you agree with me/us and how we/I want to do things, or you are a Nazi. Racial Justice and Equality are the main cat calls of the far left in their aims to socialise and legislate for all forms of social and economic interactions between people.

The woke is strong in you ............. it has never been as bad as over the last 3 years - never.

Lost the progressive plot you mean? Try reading this to understand why a lot of people now reject the woke ideology. Woke - Wikipedia

Google Maps has it listed as 'Temporarily Closed'. But just found another lisitng with number 034 910 311. Maybe renovations?

USA has a serious flaw in its legal system. How can a person (whoever) be punished financially for the unproven allegations of another person. If a person has been found guilty of committing a crime, then and only then should there be a civil case seeking compensation. Clearly the judicial system in parts of the USA has been taken over by political activism. I can see Trump tearing down the Judicial structures and rebuilding them - perhaps like Orban did in Hungary to remove all the political activists who had been appointed to Judical positions by his political opponents. I wonder if Trump and Orban have/will discuss the details behind how he did that in Hungary so successfully.

It astounds me that Hamas apologists can actually speak out in public in support of them. Truly unimaginable to be that much delusional and hold that much hatred for Israeli people. IMO only a person who also holds the belief of Hamas, being the total destruction and remnoval of all Jews, can state things in their favour. I have said it before and I will say it again - Israel will not stop the war until they have destroyed all of Hamas and their supporters. I do feel for the innocent Palestinians, but they are in the minority IMO - and all deaths in Gaza on on Hamas - all they have to do is surrender to stand trial, and release all the hostages. Israel has already agreed that any trial/s could be held by an independent group/country.

Care Factor ?? About the same as the chances of a snowflake in Hell. The same sort of stats were published by one of those feminist in Australia many years ago - the media went apepoo. But the truth was that any 'assault' on a woman included anyone saying something at them innapropriately by a male. It was immediately assumed they meant rapes, but it actually meant anything negative by a man towards a woman. And over the decades have they not abused all those new 'powers' given to 'proitect' them - absolutewly. Now they are fat, ugly (always were) and single - every year more males are 'walking away' from all the BS that women in the west cause when they 'allow' you to have a relationship with them. MGTOW is a growing movement in the west - basically it is an enactment of the old men's saying - 'If it floats, flies or fu*** then rent it - never buy'. And what is the woke feminist reactions to this growing movement? Accept that maybe things have become ridiculous for men and they have been biased against men oo much and are taking the blame for everything?? A bit of self-analysis and introspective thinking?? Hell No !! "Men Going Their Own Way is an anti-feminist, misogynistic, mostly online community advocating for men to separate themselves from women" "Online misogyny is growing at an alarming rate, constituting a violent backlash against feminist activism for gender equality" Meanwhile the internet (tiktok, etc)_ is full of videos by 25-40 year old women asking - where have all the men gone - why wont men approach them anymore - I do want a family now (after 20 years of slutting) but men wont cvome near me - why cant I get married again, my kids need a Dad - etc etc etc. Hoepfully the women of Thailand (and Asia in general) will continue to reject the BS feminist rubbish coming out of western countries and stick to being feminine, lovely, happy, good looking, and excellent wives.

CENTRE ??? Now that is funny ........... but as you actually believe that, right there is your issue. Most of the predominant media outlets are biased towards the left progressive woke views - and only the delusional liberals cannot see that. Here is a thought - just because most of the mainstream media organisations are saying things you agree with, does not mnake them correct. Likewise, just because most of the social media organisations are right wing does not make them correct either. How it works is that they provide what their demographic 'audiences' want to see/hear. Those organisations that have a majority of left wing audiences, are targetting themselves at that audience - same for the right wing ones. Politics is now extremely polarised and the media is doing the same - the middle ground is now hard to find - people are being forced to take a saide - not on issue by issue - but overall. The left progressive side has been winning for decades - they know their 'message' sounds so much better - especially with the young and foolish. But after 3+ decades people are realising that the biblew/koran etc are correct - the road to Hell is paved with good intentions, the Devil is in the detail and he is a liar, give a man fish and you feed him today - but teach him to fish and you feed him and his family for life. Etc etc etc.

Good points. I hope it never happens. Russia has made it very clear that they are after/liberating Eastern Ukraine which is predominantly Russian enthnic people. IMO they should have acted in 2014 after the overthrow of the elected Ukraine President - but they just took back Crimea and then supported the Eastern Regions attempting to remain independent of an EU-USA lead Western Ukraine.

Not a chance - they are far more complicated than you think. It is not just the components and the tools needed to remove and replace them, especially the battery, it is the programming of them and all other existing compnents. Because of the way they are manufactured, with the battery within/attached to the frames, they are extremely expensive to repair. Tesla has done it 'right' but most others have just charged ahead with not enough thought to ongoing developments and repairs.

I have to say that is utterly wrong. Russia, China, India, Iran, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan have formed a broad trade and security alliance. Within that are alliances like BRICS with Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates. Russia and China have been leading the way with trade and security alliances with the non-western countries for decades, because of the USA-NATO-EU lead 'western' trade and security alliances. Not only does Russia have all of its previous advantages, but it is also a lot closer to China than it has ever been in the past. China will never accept a western invasion/takeover of Russia - no more than than they would in Nth Korea. If Russia and China and all its allies joined their military forces together, it would be more than capable of taking on USA - on their home soils.

Not directly related to monkeys but I see another growing animal problem in Thailand - pigeons. Over 10 years ago I rarely saw any, but now they seem to be everywhere I visit. When visiting the family in remote Isaan, we stay at a hotel in the procincial capital - best hotel for a long way and we have stayed there for over 10 years. Last visit there (Jan) the hotel and surrounds had a lot of pigeons about - they started some years back and there are more every visit. Same thing all around Thailand when we travel - not the south so far. They may not be as bad as monkeys, but they are extremely bad for the local birds and they roost in houses and can cause all sorts of chest problems for humans - that is why we bred them outside. They are very fast breeders (we made them that way) and they are big and strong (also made that way) and if they are not stopped soon they will take over everywhere in Thailand. Every Thai I mention this too as I see their ever growing numbers, including the wife, just smiles and shrugs. I understand their reluctance to take a life - but they just dont see the downsides to not doing anything - just like the monkeys.

Yes and No. The cost of replacing the battery and/or associated electronics is extremely high and complicated. EVs are not for me, but if I did have one, I would be extremely doubtful that Somchai at the local service place would get it done correctly and safely for a Chinese made cheapie EV. However, when it comes to issue a Tesla that is another matter - I would be very confident it will be done correctly.

I hear you about SEA and I agree. But laws against product dumping exist in most 1st world countries - including Australia. Product Dumping is when a country exports products to another country in bulk volumes, at less than the prices paid for that product in their home market (effectively at a loss). The reason they would do that, is to damage the local competitors and/or to drive them out of the market - and they then slowly increase their prices and get back their 'lost profits'.

My intention is to avoid paying any income taxes at all to Thailand. I am retired and dont earn money here - my only 'income' is retirement savings (some interest) and the pension. If they force me to pay income taxes, then we are out of here and we will only return for a visit to the family/friends.

When I get seriously annoyed with all the BS that Thailand throws at me, I recall all the visits back to Aust that I have done over the years - that reminds me why I left that cesspool of progressive feminazi oppression. Then I look at my Thai wife and the beautiful friendly country I am currently staying - and that reminds me of why I stay. During the last flight from Australia I made note of the following - and have sent it to several mates and colleages to explain what Australia is really like now - not at all like in the 70s and 80s. This was the ABC News as shown on the flight and the topics are listed below in order longest to shortest - longest first: All the presenters and reporters were female (except one). Aboriginal Problems and Complaints - The Voice crap and why people should say Yes (phark all about No). Whales on a Beach - greenies trying to save them (again and again). Greek fires caused by Climate Change - total bull<deleted> blaming people driving petrol cars. Women's issues regarding 'equality' of outcome (not enough CEOs) and total pay (not per hour rates), but nothing about equal opportunity. Condemnation of Israel (no criticism of Hamas, etc.). Murray Basin dryness caused by Climate Change (no mention this happens every few years). Womens World Cup - pay inequality between male and female World Cup players (totally illogical BS). WW2 soldiers bodies found (male reporter) - good story about reamins will be returned. Plastic bottles causing pollution (no mention that adding a tax a few years ago made no difference). House prices higher report - it stated that 25% are migrants buying first home with cash, and most buyers were overseas buyers (but no obvious comments made about them driving up prices). Girls junior swimming championships somewhere (phark me, who cares - not nationals or olympic trials). That is Australia now - and the best thing males can do is ignore (never make a comment) and it is all best avoided by going to 'men's clubs' (golf courses, bars and clubs, the footy, etc). But the best approach IMO for a single/divorced guy is to move to a SEAsian country where they have values like we used to have, and where the womern are feminine and good looking, and where everything costs far less (except wine, cheese and golf).

And rabies !!

One of the many great things about living in Thailand is that they will totally ignore this BS. The last thing Thai men want is their women becoming like western women or their workplaces doing the same.

OK. I was not as negative about the 'invasion' or 'occupation' or 'liberation' depending on how anyone views the matter, but I was certainly extremely worried how things might progress and the number of people who would die. IMO NATO and USA pushed Russia too far - not that what they did was acceptable. It was one thi9ng to support a coup that removed the elected President which is response Russia immediately anxed (took back) Crimea. But they provoked 'The Bear' too far when they agreed to Ukraine becoming a part of NATO. In the end I think Russia will retain eastern Ukraine (Donbass etc), and western Ukraine will join NATO. There will be a bit of give and take over which way certain localities/cities go such that it will be technically a lose/lose for both sides, but overall that will be a win for NATO and EU and the world. It is ridiculous to think that Russia can be defeated on their 'home soil' - from Mogols to Napoleon to Hitler and many others in between - they have never been defeated on home soil. Most people do not know how big Russia is - they have 11 time zones. Many people do not realise how hard they will fight to the death - down to nearly every man and woman. When Napoleon invaded Russia, and he did the best ever, the Russians gave up Moscow and burnt it to the ground - the city burned for days. They then embarked on a campaign of guerilla warfare and destruction against Napoleon's army unlike any other see before or since. They did that because they knew it would destroy Napoleon's army in trying to keep the city with winter approaching - and they knew it would weaken his resolve - and it did - he . What is the point of conquering a country that will abandon and burn down its cities? You have more chance of defeating the Afghanistanioans on their home soil than ever conquering Russia.

What? Are you saying the IO did not tell me after I had received my first 90 day permission that I could do the next one online?? As others have said, after a new annual extension it seems sometimes that the first 90 day report has to be done in person - dont ask me why - they never explain things like that here - and you should know that. And you should know there are rules and then there is what the Thai Authority person decides.

Ditto - my Wife is Australian Citizen. She easily able to apply, and she was treated so much better and fairer than I am in Thailand. Sometimes I feel like a criminal out on parole - 90 day reports, annual extensions, reports when travelling, ask permission to leave country and return, no govt services, no free medical, etc etc. I am treated like a tourist and that is because I am legally only that and will never been any more. Residency or Citizenship is out of my reach - a lawyer said not to waste my time and money applying. Xenophobic? Nationalistic? Whatever - I would like to be treated fairly that is all.

My Bad - Dont worry - Wont happen again 🙂

That could be true. But me thinks they will find a legal way to deport him before the court appearance. That will include 'resuming' any of his financials/property to pay the fine imposed.