rudi49jr

“Soft power option are available.” At the risk of seeming even more ignorant than you apparently already think I am: what is a ‘soft power option’? Because I have no idea what that means. I do appreciate your input, though.

I will be in Thailand for 6 months, from October until the end of March 2026. If I like living there, I will be applying for a non-O retirement visa when I get back home. Applying for a non-O now is not an option, since I am not retired yet. I don’t think I qualify for a DTV, since I am neither a digital nomad nor a remote worker. Or does anyone know a way around this? Apparently they don’t do Special Tourist Visas at the Thai embassy in The Netherlands (I’m Dutch), so that doesn’t seem to be an option either. I guess what remains is the ordinary 60-day tourist visa, which I then have to extend twice while in Thailand. Is that possible, or would I have to do a visa run? Would really appreciate your input and/or advice.

This from the man who said ‘trade wars are easy’. And a lot more stuff and promises that turned out to be total BS.

Oh boy, the great negotiator (who claimed he had made deals with over 200 countries, while in fact there wasn’t a single deal made) is at it again! Go Donald, and see how much more of your foot fits into your big mouth.

Thanks for the info, guys, that really helps a lot.

Why don’t you fill the blanks for us? I can fill in some countries that Russia invaded: * Afghanistan * Chechnya * Moldova * Georgia (of which it is still stealing land, little bit by little bit) * Ukraine * Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, by way of Putin’s pet private army Wagner And I don’t think the people of Syria are very fond of Russia either, after the Russian air force bombed the hell out of many of their cities, causing tens of thousands of Syrian casualties.

This coming from a supporter of Putin, the biggest warhawk of all.

OMG, another Ukraine = neo-nazi espouser, just what we need. Maybe you should change your tune, comrad Vlad.

My girlfriend is getting rather deaf and needs good hearing aids. Until now she has made do with pretty cheap things that keep conking out after three or six months, so I want to buy her some good hearing aids. Anyone have experience with shops in Bangkok that sell them? Any recommendations?

Why did you drag Russell Brand and Julan Assange into this? They are not the Tate brothers.

And this from the self proclaimed champions and advocates of free speech. George Orwell’s thought police is now a real thing, apparently.

You would defend Jeffrey Epstein, wouldn’t you?

I always love it when criminals accuse the state of violating their human rights.

I love to travel by train, so I’m a little biased. Did the visa run BKK-Butterworth a few times in 1988 and 1989, and also BKK to Singapore (and vice versa) in ‘88. I’m not sure what it is, but I find traveling by train very relaxing. I might give this BKK-KL train a try this winter.

Try watching this:

Isn’t genociding Ukrainians? You want to Google how Putin supporters want to kill every last Ukrainian? Or are already trying to do just that? https://www.cnbc.com/2022/11/25/putins-supporters-call-for-the-extermination-of-ukraine.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allegations_of_genocide_of_Ukrainians_in_the_Russo-Ukrainian_War

Now imagine if Starmer (or any other European leader) would urge Trump to abandon oil in favor of wind power. Trump and MAGA would all get their panties in a bunch and scream blue murder, for sure. Who died and made Trump king of the universe?

Donny doesn’t remember what he said five minutes ago, and when someone reminds him he just shrugs and says something completely different. And MAGA eats it up and thinks Trump is a strong leader. What a joke.

My father was born in Germany in 1925 and in 1930, because of the great depression, his father decided to move to The Netherlands, in search of work. After finishing elementary school at 11, my father had to get a job to help feed the family. WWII broke out in 1940, and he spent three years (1941-1944) in Berlin, while it was heavily bombed by the English. His two older brothers were draughted into the German army and they were both killed at the eastern front. After the war, my father joined the Dutch army and was sent to Indonesia, where he spent more than 3 years at the frontline. He very probably saw a lot of bad things happen, but he never told us any of it and always spoke highly of the country and (most of) its people. He came back to The Netherlands in 1949. At the age of 24, he had already been through more than most people in three lifetimes. Despite that, he was kind and friendly, and forgiving. He taught me two things that I have always tried to live by: live and let live, and, most importantly, do not do unto others what you would not want others to do unto you. Two very simple basic rules, that a lot more people in the world we live in today should take to heart.

In case this was not a rhetorical question: he already said that at least a hundred times.

The only plan to end the war that Trump has is to throw Ukraine under the bus, give Russia everything they want and secure some billion dollar business deals with Russia in return for that. MAGA!!!!

Here’s what Trump posted on his ‘Truth Social’. I wonder what’s more important to him: ending the war, or resuming trade with the fascist Putin regime. Why would he specifically mention trade?

Wildlife trafficking is hugely profitable (and I’m talking billions and billions of dollars), especially for the people high(est) up in the chain. When someone gets caught, it’s almost always some poor schmuck who does the actual smuggling, not the kingpins who profit the most from this sordid business. And of course this is Thailand, where anyone can be bought. The top traffickers operate in the background, out of sight, they pay bribes to lots of officials to ‘grease the wheels’, and when they do get in trouble they just throw more money at it to make the problem go away.

The Democrat-Marxists. Wow. I see you’ve been reading too much of the MAGA playbook again.