Hawaiian

27 minutes ago, Tug said:

Guess you will never know cause you don’t bother to watch 

I don't waste my time watching either candidate.  They both continue to make misleading and confusing comments.  You are entitled to interpret it anyway you want to convince yourself your candidate knows what they are talking about.

As a gun owner, I never pickup any of my guns when I am upset. 

No mention of emergency (hazard) flashers on Isuzu truck.  That might have helped to avoid this tragic accident.

46 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

I didn't say only hunters had guns, but hunters aren't the ones committing the crimes. There are also target shooters, and those also aren't. It's mostly gang warfare and suicides that encompasses most gun crimes there. Peace loving citizens are also not the ones committing crimes, unless it's to keep them or their families safe, in self defense.

 

The world is getting crazier each day, a lot because we let crazy leaders ply their trade, and corruption is rampant. Crimes aren't enforced harshly enough, especially here, where a fake wai and sorry gets many off harsh sentences. This shows others they can do the same things, knowing their punishment won't be so severe. You can kill, then leave the country and come back later, and all is well. That doesn't happen in western countries. You commit murder, you're a fugitive waiting to be punished, no matter when you're caught.

 

Riots and protests happen everywhere but here you're silenced for speaking your mind. What many aren't seeing is that crime is increasing everywhere, especially in countries where the officials are involved in human trafficking, where cash can get many off, because getting paid or giving cash compensation closes many cases. More road rage in the west maybe yes, but traffic deaths here are higher than most anywhere, and it's rage plus incompetency and ignorance that has the rate so high, and this will not change for a very long time to come, if ever.

There are more guns than people in the U.S.  More Americans than ever are purchasing firearms for personal protection.  And it isn't only men buying these guns.  More states are passing laws allowing for concealed carry and some for open carry.

The police are overwhelmed and are having a difficult time responding to violent crimes.  As you say, these are crazy times.

Got in at 5:30 this morning and immigration was nearly deserted with some booths with no lines at all.  Pleasant surprise.  What's up?

47 minutes ago, habuspasha said:

At 83 I use testosterone gel (Andro-gel) and 20mg of tadalafil (cialis) daily.  No side-effects to speak of.  Not as vigorous as I was in my 70s, but I stay engaged and enjoy it.  And my GF doesn't have the energy she had ten years ago in her 30s.  I'm getting her to take progesterone.  These "pharmaceuticals" aren't more chemical than the hormones they replace. 

There comes a point in time where they will not work anymore.  It can be disappointing and even frustrating, but it is what it is.  Consider yourself lucky.

Unfortunately, UNRWA is just another U.N. agency used as a cover for operatives of the worst kind.  Wise move by the Israelis.

Just too many things to go wrong with a system that works.  Progress often causes problems that don't exist.

4 hours ago, Neeranam said:

Strange logic. Hamas would stop it, in my opinion, if Israel stop occupying them, it isn't rocket science. This is all about the Israeli Occupation and Apartheid system in greater Israel. 

Israel left Hamas alone hoping they would concentrate on bettering the lives of the people of Gaza.  Instead of Hamas spent a fortune constructing an elaborate tunnel system, basically a fortified underground city. Then came the October massacre.  The rest is history.  No need for rocket science, as you say, to counter your argument that Hamas was justified in committing such atrocities.

Hamas squandered an opportunity to bring a better life to those they governed.  Too late now.

On 10/23/2024 at 5:33 PM, Neeranam said:

The US and the world are watching Israel closely. 

 

The US has demanded proof on the ground that Israel does not have a policy of starvation in northern Gaza as it turned up the pressure on the Netanyahu government to allow more aid into the territory. 

The US ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, told the security council on Wednesday at a meeting convened by France UK and Algeria that such a policy “would not just be horrific and unacceptable” but also had “implications under international and US law”

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/oct/16/urgent-un-security-council-meeting-called-amid-pressure-on-israel-to-allow-aid-into-gaza

 

Hamas knew that Israel would retaliate for the October 7 massacre.  What they may not have expected is Israel's determination to bring Hamas to its knees to prevent this from happening again.

There is no doubt many innocent people are being maimed and killed, but unfortunately this is the price of war. 

Hamas can stop this, but they won't.

On 10/23/2024 at 2:34 PM, save the frogs said:

 

yep, then you fall into dubious meds for life. 

 

I take Lisinopril and Hydrochlorothiazide which keeps my blood pressure below the 120/80 range. I wouldn't call them "dubious meds."  Quite affordable and cost effective at $96/year. 

3 hours ago, jaywalker2 said:

I already contacted them. They told me that mail deposit was the only option. Most banks have very small limits on mobile deposits. At Citibank it's only $1000 a day for example. Fidelity lowered their maximium to $1000 too after dealing with a number of fraud cases. Apparently, you could deposit a fake check and withdraw the money before they discovered it.

This is why banks put a hold on deposited checks until they are cleared. 

54 minutes ago, impulse said:

One of my favorite malls in Houston, called Greenspoint, got the nickname Gunspoint in the '80s and it was downhill from there.  Used to go there a few times a week for sporting goods (fishing mostly), movies and to eat.  None of my family have been there in years.  (Haven't bought a pair of Florsheims in decades, either)

 

Look at a lot of the store closings, and it's because the shrink makes it impossible to make a profit.  Online sales is a big factor, but crime is (IMO) just as big.  Between fear of being mugged and "shrinkage", brick and mortar is doomed by crime alone.  I blame that on the Ferguson effect.

 

On an aside, Thailand does malls right.  Mostly food and drink (which doesn't work well online) and the retail is a side beneficiary.  Still, I suspect a lot of the retail in the Thai malls is money laundering.  I see shops that never seem to have a customer, watching for an hour or so from a nearby eatery.  And I scratch my head.

 

I agree that increasing criminal activity is a major deterrent.  Many outlets have become unprofitable  because of it.  Unfortunately, things are getting worse.

23 minutes ago, itsari said:

Corruption will continue if people like you feed them to avoid an even worse sore arse.

 

While corruption is corruption, at least his business doesn't involve fatal consequences.

On 9/25/2024 at 8:14 PM, Bday Prang said:

Is this stupid question aimed at any AN members or just at any of the members who happen , coincidentally,  to be  oncologists specialising in melanoma, and who may have signed in and are currently browsing ?

 

I  would say you should be perfectly safe ,  not that I know anything about melanoma , like most on here ,  but ,  based on the fact that I myself have been here for the best part of 30 years with no issues so far,   Does that put your mind at rest ?    DUH !

 

 

 

 

Don't know how old you are, but it took me 84 years before developing basal cell carcinoma.  I just has surgery to remove it. This is probably the least dangerous form of skin cancer and is usually caused by exposure to UV rays.

On 9/24/2024 at 6:44 AM, Lorry said:

But they are so cute and lovely!

They don't kill many people,  out of 8 billion, only a tiny percentage is killed by pitbulls.

They only kill the old and weak, this old lady certainly had some preexisting condition,  otherwise she would have just run away. And why does she live in a pitbullish neighborhood, anyway?

 

If you have a good defense, you are safe.

 

BTW I am moving to Sam Khok next week.  Anybody knows where to buy a second hand Abrams for my defense?

What you are claiming is sheer nonsense. 

22 hours ago, ericbj said:

All currencies these days are fiat currencies.  They are backed by nothing durable.  They are backed by public confidence, and that relies upon the supply of a currency being related to the availability of goods and services.  "Money-printing", e.g. through ever-expanding unproductive debt, obviously increases the money supply resulting in its devaluation (commonly referred to as "inflation").

 

Financialisation of government debt - central bank loans to government to cover ever deepening budget deficits - is likely to get worse in the foreseeable future.  So be prepared!

 

In the days when paper money was promissory notes to supply gold, its purchasing power fluctuated only slightly over centuries.

 

Gold is difficult to wrest from the ground, and cannot be conjured up out of thin air.  It is a hard asset.  Not a credit note.

 

The down-side of gold is that it does not produce interest or dividends, but on the contrary there is a cost of storage and insurance (except to the extent that one may hold a small amount in a secure place at home)

 

Putting some cash into the shares of a gold royalty/streaming or established mining company (NOT an exploration company - highly speculative) can be a way of deriving some income from gold investment.  With leverage - up or down - in capital value, depending upon whether the gold price is rising or falling.

 

When purchasing bullion that is to be stored and insured, it is important to make sure that the dealer transfers it to a reputable, specialised bullion storage company and that you personally are listed as the owner.

 

Some Thais lost their stored gold during the crisis of 1997.  Their dealers retained the gold in their own name [it was not "allocated"], perhaps holding it as security against borrowing, and when they went bankrupt their creditors took the gold.

 

Gold that is held in secure vaults is very quickly and easily sold in on-line dealing, using the same dealers through which it was purchased.

 

If interested, it may be worth perusing these sites :

 

https://www.bullionvault.com/

 

https://swpcayman.com/

 

https://www.goldcore.com/

 

Gold may not generate interest, but has the potential to appreciate in value.  In the past 7 years gold has more than doubled in value. 

2 hours ago, hotchilli said:

An easy mistake to make, just exiting the car for a few moments can go wrong... take our the keys or at least have a spare set in your bag

I always have an entry key in my pocket.  Also have one secured to the underside of the vehicle.  The key only unlocks the vehicle, but cannot start it.

1 hour ago, G Rex said:

So much time and effort is wasted on petty accusations like this in Thailands governance.

This is probably why little seems to actually get done here..

Exactly what I was ready to post.

16 hours ago, Dave0206 said:

Yes of course you are right but 1) if 20 minutes delay is enough to miss connecting flight why buy it ( today 28 minutes late)

2) why do airlines sell it especially if possible compensation is a real possibility 

I never buy tickets with less than two hours between connecting flights and if having to pass through customs and immigration, at least three hours.  Rather wait than miss a flight

13 hours ago, VBF said:

Go online to one of the many booking sites or a hotel's own site, book a hotel pending payment, print that off to a PDF, submit PDF with your application.

Job done

Thanks for the advice, but I asked how to document staying at a private residence and not how to game the system.

Hopefully, this will be cleared up before the rules go into effect.  This year we will be in Thailand in November and I will inquire about it.

10 hours ago, Norwegiantraveler said:

My question is for people like me who travel around are we gonna need to provide an entire itinerary for the trip ?

 

Because last year when I applied for a visa, it was approved even if I had only booked a hotel for my first week.

 

 

 

 

What about travelers, like my Thai girlfriend and I,  who stay at a private residence?  How do we document that? 

1 hour ago, Red Phoenix said:

Imo so-called 'long COVID' is nothing more than vax-fanatic speak to obfuscate some of the adverse effects of the 'safe and effective' mRNA covid-vax.  

How do you explain cases of long Covid in unvaccinated people?