bunnydrops

And they are eating the dogs, eating the cats!

"The sex of a baby is determined by its chromosome make-up at conception. An embryo with two X chromosomes will become a girl, while an embryo with an X-Y combination results in a boy," "The Y chromosome carries a critical gene, called SRY, which acts on another gene called SOX9 to start the development of testes in the embryo. High levels of the SOX9 gene are needed for normal testis development. "However, if there is some disruption to SOX9 activity and only low levels are present, a testis will not develop resulting in a baby with a disorder of sex development." "Importantly, we identified XX patients who would normally have ovaries and be female but carried extra copies of these enhancers, (high levels of SOX9) and instead developed testes. In addition, we found XY patients who had lost these SOX9 enhancers, (low levels of SOX9) and developed ovaries instead of testes." https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/12/181215141333.htm

Per capita, Germany, the US, and Canada, in that order pollute more than China. https://climate.selectra.com/en/carbon-footprint/most-polluting-countries#:~:text=the energy transition.-,Who are the most polluting countries in the world?,tells a very different story.

China signed the Paris Accord. If the US backs out it will join the other three countries that didn't, Iran, Libya and Yemen.

I like this from Morningstar "The price of the Trump Coin (TRUMPUSD) peaked at over $75 before plunging to the vicinity of $40 after the Melania Coin was announced on the former and incoming first lady's social-media account. Trump Coin then recovered to $63 before again falling to below $55. It had fallen further, to the vicinity of $44, by the time Trump was sworn in at the U.S. Capitol. Neither the Trump Coin nor the Melania Coin has any underlying value. The Melania Coin's website characterizes the coins bearing her name as "not financial instruments or investments" and says that they are for "collecting and entertainment purposes only." Trump Coin's valuation per available supply was $11 billion - ranking as one of the top 20, according to CoinMarketCap - and Melania Coin's was $2 billion. More of the coin supply will vest over time - Melania's in as little as a month, and the president-elect's in as little as three months. Trump Coin's metIt appears the launch of the Melania Coin was hastily arranged after the eoric rise." https://www.morningstar.com/news/marketwatch/2025012084/trump-coin-crashes-and-recovers-after-melania-coin-launch-whats-next-for-the-incoming-first-family-and-the-crypto-industry

I don't think using the word PowWow is racist. The American Indians still hold Powwows. The term powwow, derives from the Algonquian Indian word pau wau, which means "he dreams." In this definition, pau wau had a personal, reverent, religious significance. Contrasting with this definition, the contemporary powwow is usually open to the public and is a group-oriented social event. The concept of powwow originated among the tribes that inhabited the Great Plains from the southern prairies of Canada to the lower plains of Texas. In the prereservation era many Plains Indian tribes formed intertribal alliances. These alliances allowed tribe-specific songs, dances, and ceremonies to be exchanged. This is the historical foundation for today's "intertribal powwow." https://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry?entry=PO030

I think this one paragraph from an opinion piece in the NYTs says it all. "We live in a soap opera country. We live in a social media/cable TV country. In our culture you don’t want to focus on boring policy questions; you want to engage in the kind of endless culture war that gets voters riled up. You don’t want to focus on topics that would require study; you focus on images and easy-to-understand issues that generate instant visceral reactions. You don’t win this game by engaging in serious thought; you win by mere attitudinizing — by striking a pose. Your job is not to advance an argument that might help the country; your job is to go viral."

Will that make him Hog at Trough or Rooster on Dunghill?

"For our Wise interest feature — a feature of our Wise Account — we've established relationships with an FDIC-insured Program Bank* to offer FDIC pass-through insurance. This feature is available for eligible customers** that have opted in to receive the benefit and applicable only to Eligible Balances*." https://wise.com/us/blog/is-wise-fdic-insured

There seems to be something going on about using foreign CC cards for purchases in Thailand. I used to be able to pay for YouTube Prime with my US CC, but now they will only accept a CC issued in Thailand. I was also thinking of getting the True wallet until I saw that they will not accept top-ups with foreign CC cards.

Yes, keep shrubs and trees around the house to a minimum.

Being a West Coast builder for many years, I have found it rare to see a house built with wood exteriors for over 20 years. Wood shingle roofs have been outlawed and most if not all siding is done in Hardyboard https://www.jameshardie.com/product-catalog/exterior-siding-products/hardie-plank-lap-siding/select-cedarmill/statement-collection-colors/, A brush fire can get to 1100C, and concrete has a melting point of around 1500C so it is not going to melt but it surely will take some damage and maybe fail to support upper floors. The real problem with concrete walls is its low insulating properties so something has to be installed on the inside to keep the house warm in the winter and cold in the summer. There in lies the problem. In a fire the concrete transfers the heat into the interior of the building quickly reaching the flash point of curtains, furniture, paper and plastics. The walls may be standing but the place is gutted. Once the fire starts inside the house you have built a nice enclosed incinerator. It might be cooler outside.

Ah Yes, Trump never lies but never really means what he said.

I read the whole speech. Too much Fruit Loops for breakfast I think.

Your are correct "Additional Qualifying Criteria for Non-Resident Non-Citizen Spouses While we cover the general requirements for a non-US spouse to claim Social Security benefits, it’s important to note that the criteria can be more complex for non-resident non-citizen spouses living abroad. To qualify, such spouses must meet one of the following conditions: Residency in the US: The non-US spouse should have lived in the United States for at least five years while married to their US citizen spouse. These five years do not need to be consecutive. Totalization Agreement: The non-US spouse should be a citizen, resident, or former resident of a country that has a social security agreement, also known as a Totalization Agreement, with the United States." Thailand does not have that agreement

Didn't they have a house or a car in her name?

If she was legally married, she is entitled to some, if not all, of his Social Security payments. If he didn't leave a will, it will take some time to receive any assets he may have had.

I spend most of my time here in Thailand. Even at 79, I can still get construction work in the States where I can get more money in a week than I can spend in a month here. My Thai wife also has a seasonal job there so it is worth missing the rainy season here🙂. We will be going back one more time this year and then it will be full time in Thailand after that.

To blackmail, you have to ask for money.

Clinton won the electoral college with 379 and by over 8.51% popular vote, Obama 365 EC 7.27% PV, DT only got 312, and won the PV by only 1.48%.

I had to explain to my Thai family that throwing all that plastic out into the fields where it gets plowed under year after year was not a good idea. "Where do you think it goes?" I have got them to throw it in the trash where it goes to the landfill and gets burned😔. One step at a time I guess.

OK, you got me there, I didn't know about her "distinguished merit and ability". I guess American girls just don't have what it takes.

Let us not forget that Melania got H-1b for skill in A camel's cigarette and posing with a blowup whale. After citizenship, she got her parents in on the family plan.

I find that most 10's are just painted faces and expensive clothes, and look too much alike.

Why didn't you sing it?