thaibeachlovers

Regardless of what reasons people may point out, Thailand is a hot mess waiting to happen.

The farmers have every right to feel manipulated lately and they are heading into a hard year. At a time where organizing to complain is illegal, with an oversensitive government that is more and down the slippery slope of authoritarian rule.

Now watch what happens when Europe bans the fish, Americas doles out sanctions, farmers start having their land returned to the forestry department, and biggest of all, they start messing with Facebook and Line. And these are just some issues we can talk about.

2016 is looking to be a pivotal year.

If my wife has to give up her smartphone addiction for whatever reason that will be a plus for me.

One global strategy that they could bring in right now is NOT to fly thousands of government lackeys to Paris or wherever to generate lots of hot air. The ultimate hypocrisy of the "do as I say, not as I do" morons that flock to the next exotic location for the next meaningless conference on something they can't change anyway.

One might think these clowns had never heard of video conferencing.

BTW, how many GW believers are willing to give up all fossil fuelled transportation and electricity, right now? What's that, I can't hear anyone, just a deafening silence.

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to be held in Paris France Nov. 30th - Dec. 11th is probably one of the most crucial Global Government meeting in respect of addressing GW / CC since the Kyoto Protocol 18 years ago. Nations are expected to enter their respective, legally binding CO₂ emissions reduction schemes and targets. To suggest that these crucial meetings between Governments and Nations around the World can be 'skyped' in, is amusing. The Carbon 'footprint' of this meeting would have absolutely ZERO effect on Global CO₂ emissions. The various commitments of Nations Governments will dictate the extent of GW / CC over the next 15 years. The higher the CO₂ emissions targets the higher the amount of GW and the higher degree of CC and the higher the potential of extreme weather events, reduction in Polar caps, higher sea levels and greater Ocean acidification. So these effects can certainly be managed if based on the scientific research. Far from meaningless.

One thing I am absolutely certain of is the 'Merchants of Doubt' like Congresswoman Blackburn will be ramping up the GW / CC misinformation in an attempt to protect Fossil Fuel polluters from being effected.

"....BTW, how many GW believers are willing to give up all fossil fuelled transportation and electricity, right now? What's that, I can't hear anyone, just a deafening silence......."

As someone who accepts the scientific evidence of GW / CC I would hope the silence is absolutely deafening on this absurd suggestion.

The Carbon 'footprint' of this meeting would have absolutely ZERO effect on Global CO₂ emissions.

How can you say that? Multiply the number of persons attending from overseas with the amount of jet fuel they use and their "footprint" will be substantial. Unless of course they intend to use magic carpets.

Why could they not video conference? I suspect the real reason they want to go in person is for the food, the booze and the sex.

While I don't accept the scientific "evidence" is proven one way or another, I also think that even if it is man made, nothing will be done that makes any difference, no matter how many conferences they hold.

You say The higher the CO₂ emissions targets the higher the amount of GW and the higher degree of CC and the higher the potential of extreme weather events, reduction in Polar caps, higher sea levels and greater Ocean acidification. So these effects can certainly be managed if based on the scientific research.

How can the effects be "managed" without reducing carbon production? Ergo we need to stop using cars and flying to make a difference, but no government will do that.

I am certainly ready to listen to any suggestion that would reduce carbon production without limiting car use and flying, but so far there haven't been any realistic suggestions.

Part of the problem for a low birth rate in Denmark maybe that the sale and purchase of sex is legal in Denmark. So it doesn't suffer from high teenage pregnancies like Thailand.

Several countries like Singapore, Australia, Canada, Czech Republic , Lithuania, and Taiwan have baby bonuses to increase their birth rates. But statistically there seems little impact.

The most immediate solution is to encourage immigration of young families to grow the population. So if the young Mohamed, Wang, Kevin and Aasif can be integrated into society, be employed and pay taxes, the elderly will have a sustainable future.

A low birth rate is a good thing, not a problem.

There is no need to import any person of an alien culture to provide for the elderly, Christians from the Philippines will be happy to oblige.

Western food is cheap ..............

2015-09-22 19.05.38-1.jpg

35bht a plate, and an hour of my time.

You'll have to excuse me but I simply don't dine at the end of the market from where "dishes" like that originate.

I'm talking about imported meats, fruits, trusted brand names but I'm not sure your pension will stretch, MaeJo

imported meats, fruits, trusted brand names

So you pay large to eat imported fruit when it's fresh off the tree in LOS, meat when it's fresh killed in LOS, western "brands" full of chemicals ( ever read those labels? ).

I suppose you think Thai food is full of sprays etc, but western processed food is hardly free of chemicals, and the Thais seem to survive just as well as westerners ( and westerners are very unhealthy ).

Who said anything about processed food?

I import stuff that I'm either unable to find here or that I'm not prepared to compromise on.

I bring in things like toiletries, sportswear, trainers as well as Yorkshire Tea.

The local gourmet food markets at Terminal 21, EM Quartier and Emporium stock imported California red grapes that taste far superior to locally produced nonsense.

I like smoked salmon but the locally-produced Thammachart stuff tastes like utter crap - dry and pumped full of foul-smelling preservatives; I prefer the Scottish produce at Villa or Gourmet.

People might think this is excessive but they think nothing of peeling off 10 or 20k a month to keep a Thai woman in their employ.

Go figure

I don't remember the food I ate 10 years ago ( and it all ends up as c**p ), but I do remember the lovely girls I knew back then. If it came down to spending money on food or girls, no contest.

Fortunate the man that can afford the best of both.

For reminders the topic under discussion is:

What do you see in Pattaya?

I saw some busy gogo bars last night with some decent talent.

I haven't been out for awhile, but Walking Street was rather lively considering all the doom 'n gloom reports.

When I recently visited W S if the Chinese hadn't been there it would have been very quiet. I did miss the DDG Slavic women.

However, W S is definitely the place to enjoy cute girls without having to pay OTT for a drink.

imported meats, fruits, trusted brand names

So you pay large to eat imported fruit when it's fresh off the tree in LOS, meat when it's fresh killed in LOS, western "brands" full of chemicals ( ever read those labels? ).

I suppose you think Thai food is full of sprays etc, but western processed food is hardly free of chemicals, and the Thais seem to survive just as well as westerners ( and westerners are very unhealthy ).

You say "western brands full of chemicals"

well...

Some stuff I occasionally bought in Thailand:

Pasta from Italy = 0 chemicals (according to the label)

Olive oil (Spain/Italy) = 0 chemicals

Granola (Netherlands/Germany) = 0 chemicals

Peeled tomatoes (Italy) = 0 chemicals

Italian mixed herb spices = 0 chemicals

Olives (Spain/Greece) = 0 chemicals

By the way in my home country men live 9 years longer than in Thailand, but I'm not sure that food is the cause, probably more because of the the healthcare system, less traffic accidents, less alcoholism, etc

Fair enough, you got me there, but MOST of the imported processed food is full of chemicals. Even back in country of origin, the stuff in supermarkets is usually processed and full of chemicals.

BTW, why would anyone buy imported tomatoes when the markets have shelves full of them? Does travel make them taste better?

Just to be off topic a bit, while men may live longer back home, for most it's not "living", stuck in a rest home in front of a tv all day. In fact that is my idea of hell on earth, and if I die sooner by living in LOS, all the better for me.

They are already peeled so great for pasta sauce. Thai tomatoes are not that tasty. Plus I like Italian ingredients, as they respect their products and its always great quality and taste.

As for long life: as they say - let's talk when you are 71 ...

All the really old people I know are or were decrepit and had/ have a terrible life once they become dependent on others. I hope I'm dead by the time I've had my 3 score and 10.

I'll probably go home to die as Thai Drs are apparently very hard to persuade to let patients die.

Eliotness, agreed the debate over CC is not the issue here, but how to invest in a more more sustainable future. It's not about how to correct unsustainable lifestyles and birth rates, this implies a defeated attitude.

Let me explain by way of example. In the UK for example, there were feed-in tariffs (now scrapped by new administration) for renewable energy sources.

However, there is still a huge potential for hydroelectric schemes, that would provide a much greater return with correct help from Govt's. Hydro schemes however, can have riparian issues (shared ownership) issues, but there are others out there in possible public ownership that are perceived more as a liability, than an asset, but which just need promoting to attract capital investment.

Currently, the U.K. obtains around 20% of its energy from renewable sources, but much much more needs to be done, across all sectors. This should be the focus, for Govt, not bailing out the corruption of failing financial institutions.

Without reducing global population, there is no possibility of reducing pollution to acceptable levels.

If governments wanted to reduce pollution, they could bring in free public transportation powered by electricity in cities and quadruple the cost of petrol, but they won't, because they are all talk and no action.

Even building nuclear power plants would make a difference in real terms, but they don't want to, like the Japanese, who won't restart their reactors, but use oil generation instead.

One of the problems however, in giving air time to people like Marsha Blackburn is it diverts attention away from the more important issue, of the need to formulate global energy strategies at Paris. It's about listening to the ideas of environmentalists like Aubrey Meyer and James Lovelock, not Politicians merely interested in their own political rhetoric.

One global strategy that they could bring in right now is NOT to fly thousands of government lackeys to Paris or wherever to generate lots of hot air. The ultimate hypocrisy of the "do as I say, not as I do" morons that flock to the next exotic location for the next meaningless conference on something they can't change anyway.

One might think these clowns had never heard of video conferencing.

BTW, how many GW believers are willing to give up all fossil fuelled transportation and electricity, right now? What's that, I can't hear anyone, just a deafening silence.

What an inane post. Nobody is suggesting we all move back into caves but that doesn't mean we can't at least try to do something about it.

Practical suggestions then. So far, the only thing governments do is put taxes on things.

I suggested video conferencing instead of flying to Paris. That would save a few zillion tonnes of CO2. What do you do to "do something about it"? I use a small car as little as possible, and don't go to sports games.

Read the full article. The farmers are having it tough, A lot of it is their own fault. "They are having to sell their cars" means that in a good year, the faithful old Mighty X, only used for the weekly trip to the market, was replaced by a shiny D-Max with only a small deposit and 10,000 baht a month repayments. The envy of their neighbours, until they have to hand it back. In a village 10km from me, three brothers live in adjacent houses and have adjacent farms. Decided to buy a new tractor, but argued over who was to drive it. So they bought one each on credit they could never afford. I live in a relatively prosperous province, but from what I hear from friends in Isaan, "there be trouble at' (rice) mill soon, tha marks my words."

A lot of it is their own fault

Should be "most of it is their own fault".

I have little sympathy, given that they strive to kill the golden goose at every opportunity. The beaches are ruined in their pursuit of money over the environment, and even things like immigration policy for expats is making it harder to stay.

Perhaps if it really does turn to poo it will become easier for those of us that didn't sell a house back home at a huge profit to remain in LOS. While not good for the Thais, it may be a silver lining for us poorer expats.

"People are complaining about the rising costs of living, of having no money for spending," said Teerasak Teecayuphan, the mayor of the neighbouring provincial capital of Khon Kaen. "Their patience will gradually run out. Sooner or later this pot will boil over."

It is difficult to believe that people in positions of power have learned nothing from the events of the last decade. You can't leave people with no way out, they won't stand for it. With the removal of the Shin dynasty, one would have thought that there was an opportunity to win hearts and minds with thoughtful policies. This will not end well.

People are complaining about the rising costs of living, of having no money for spending

Certainly doesn't apply in Chiang Mai area. Roads chock a block with expensive cars, C M itself is a permanent traffic jam, restaurants full, malls booming with shoppers. Lots of building going on.

No recession that I can see.

When Assad is gone all efforts can be concentrated on the destruction of ISIS, all Syrians can go back home and start a new country.

I know simple thinking, but that is what is needed at times.

If Assad goes, all the different factions will fight each other to try and be the top dog. Anyway, Iran will be running Syria after Assad goes.

What is needed is to create a safe zone on the border for the refugees to stay in.

The UN will do what the UN does- wring it's collective hands and ask people to be nice to each other, but it will be ignored as always.

Couldn't stop Rawanda, couldn't stop Sebrenica, can't stop anything at all, and got fooled by GW's BS on Iraq. Why is the UN even involved in this sort of thing? Should just be a talking shop and provide aid. Stop pretending it is capable of changing anything.

One of the problems however, in giving air time to people like Marsha Blackburn is it diverts attention away from the more important issue, of the need to formulate global energy strategies at Paris. It's about listening to the ideas of environmentalists like Aubrey Meyer and James Lovelock, not Politicians merely interested in their own political rhetoric.

One global strategy that they could bring in right now is NOT to fly thousands of government lackeys to Paris or wherever to generate lots of hot air. The ultimate hypocrisy of the "do as I say, not as I do" morons that flock to the next exotic location for the next meaningless conference on something they can't change anyway.

One might think these clowns had never heard of video conferencing.

BTW, how many GW believers are willing to give up all fossil fuelled transportation and electricity, right now? What's that, I can't hear anyone, just a deafening silence.

I'm happy to ignore the Pope on CC. I ignore him on everything else already.

Well they cant shoot them if they dont have a gun. Its hard to run from a gun, you dont see too many mass stabbings. Id prefer my chances running from a guy with a knife instead of a gun.

Australia has more people than in 1996. They also have very strict laws on who can have them and, just as important, how they are stored. But the US doesnt seem to want that. They prefer to just accept he constant mass shootings.

Do you know anything about American gun laws? NO. Why talk about something you have no knowledge? I know Aussie and anti American. OK I get that. Why do you care? Are you worried about American lives? What is your motivation posting all the anti gun stuff? Do you think Americans will listen to you? I would but you have no in depth knowledge about the subject.

You don't like Americans and are using this tragedy to spew venom about an area that you have no knowledge. The only reason I write that is so you will know how your views are perceived by an American.

You don't help the issue you only serve to cement the pro gun lobby in America.

A hate crime was committed in Oregon today the perp happened to use a gun. Others have used box cutters or fertilizer with far more tragic results. I am saddened by the crime. Hate crimes are such that if the perp did not have a gun he would have used a bomb or some other tool of destruction that is the nature of those who do such things.

America has a lot of gun laws. The students were killed in a gun free zone as that is one of the laws.

Why are posters referring to a "gun free zone"? The school was NOT a gun free zone and there was a student with a gun on campus at the time. He didn't try to take out the nutter himself as the SWAT might have mistaken him for the shooter and killed him.

The facts are easily verified with a simple google search.

Oregon has a law allowing guns on campus, one of 7 states that do.

During an October 1 appearance on CNN’s Newroom, former US Marshal Art Roderick said the gunman at Oregon’s Umpqua Community College probably chose his target by knowing it was as gun free-zone and therefore “an easy target.”

http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/10/01/former-us-marshal-oregon-gunman-chose-gun-free-facility-umpqua-community-college/

So the college administrators broke Oregon law?

Unless the good marshal is psychic there is no way he knows what the shooter thought, unless they come up with something the shooter wrote that supports that theory.

I'm boggled!

Perhaps Danes don't want children for many reasons- a couple could be that they are too expensive, and people are having too much fun to want to be tied down with a screaming infant.

I'm sure my mother wanted me to have a child for her to fuss over, but she knew me too well to even bring the subject up.

Just for those that even think gun control is possible in the US, the slaughter of young black men in Chicago is carried out with illegal weapons. The local government will not enforce even the current laws.

BTW, have you noticed that cities with the worst violent crime rates are all run by Democratic administrations?

Trump is self financing his campaign and stated recently he will not run ads.

Funny stuff...won't really put his money where his mouth is. He says the media is giving him enough coverage. Estimated $1 billion so far.

So without ads he's likely to lose,, but he knows that and just having a Cheap Charlie go at the nomination process.

Priceless

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Just a guess, but IMO the Donald doesn't want to be president and have to put up with all the bs that entails. He's too smart for that. I reckon he just wants to stir things up and get someone elected that does what he believes the country needs.

He's in buffoon mode again.

He would be damaging the credibility of entire U.S.A. brand doing stuff like that.

Give asylum, it's done, as the new U.S. president he would be obligated to honor previous asylum grants.

If he could manage his mouth, he might really have a chance. But it's clear he can't, so he doesn't.

Take them in and send them all to Detroit to help bring that city back. If they complain it isn't good enough send them back. win win.

Good thinking. Detroit has loads of empty space due to people leaving.

I'd agree with the Donald if he were say he'd send them back to Turkey. That is where they belong, though obviously Turkey needs financial aid to look after them.

Refugees have no "right" to move beyond the first safe country they enter.

While some are complaining that Saudi etc do not take refugees, they are only doing what they consider to be best for their countries, unlike western governments welcoming an alien invasion.

Seems to me that if mass shootings are a recent phenomenon in the US, it must be due to something making more people want to kill other people.

Discover that and there may be a solution.

Perhaps growing up nowadays seeing thousands of people being killed on tv, and the video game culture involving killing people are breeding people more willing to kill. I don't know, but if it is a factor, would people be willing to give up violent tv and video games? Somehow I don't think so.

''This is a well planned Islamic invasion of Europe'' -- Viktor Orbán,, Hungarian Prime Minister

The truly amazing thing is that Orbán has been vilified from all sides (notably the EU, naturally, and the BBC, of course), simply for being in touch with his people, and pursuing a policy which the people who voted him into power overwhelmingly support.

The "progressive" narrative runs like this: Either Mr Orbán is a nasty piece of work who is opportunistically appealing to his countrymen’s worst instincts, or the desires of the Hungarian people are beneath consideration – or both.

The message from the EU kommissars is plain; a democratically elected politician carrying out the wishes of his people is no longer acceptable in Europe -- if it disagrees with the views of an unelected group of professional administrators in Brussels.

Think you will find the reality is Orbán trying to keep minority far right party (Jobbik) at bay by some gestures of appeasement to their demands. Before you start applauding Jobbik keep in mind they are also virulently anti-Semitic. Right now the far right are targeting Muslims, but never forget their fairly recent heritage of focus on the other 'others' as for sure they won't if they ever gain actionable power.

http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/foreign-policy/247877-dont-be-duped-by-hungarian-extremists

Correct. Orban is, in many ways, the Christian version of Erdogan, the Islamist fascist president of Turkey. He might not be as oppressive as Erdogan, but his extreme right-wing ideology is obvious.

Sadly, extremists are gaining ground in both the Middle East and Europe.

extremists are gaining ground in.......... Europe.

What do you expect when the common people see the fat cats that inhabit their governments allowing their way of life to be swamped by an invasion of an alien culture?

extremists are gaining ground in ..... the Middle East

What do you expect when the common people see the fat cats that inhabit their governments wallowing in the trough while they suffer?

When the usual suspects in government are unable to deliver the good life to their people, the people will turn to those that offer hope of change for the better.

Western food is cheap ..............

2015-09-22 19.05.38-1.jpg

35bht a plate, and an hour of my time.

You'll have to excuse me but I simply don't dine at the end of the market from where "dishes" like that originate.

I'm talking about imported meats, fruits, trusted brand names but I'm not sure your pension will stretch, MaeJo

imported meats, fruits, trusted brand names

So you pay large to eat imported fruit when it's fresh off the tree in LOS, meat when it's fresh killed in LOS, western "brands" full of chemicals ( ever read those labels? ).

I suppose you think Thai food is full of sprays etc, but western processed food is hardly free of chemicals, and the Thais seem to survive just as well as westerners ( and westerners are very unhealthy ).

You say "western brands full of chemicals"

well...

Some stuff I occasionally bought in Thailand:

Pasta from Italy = 0 chemicals (according to the label)

Olive oil (Spain/Italy) = 0 chemicals

Granola (Netherlands/Germany) = 0 chemicals

Peeled tomatoes (Italy) = 0 chemicals

Italian mixed herb spices = 0 chemicals

Olives (Spain/Greece) = 0 chemicals

By the way in my home country men live 9 years longer than in Thailand, but I'm not sure that food is the cause, probably more because of the the healthcare system, less traffic accidents, less alcoholism, etc

Fair enough, you got me there, but MOST of the imported processed food is full of chemicals. Even back in country of origin, the stuff in supermarkets is usually processed and full of chemicals.

BTW, why would anyone buy imported tomatoes when the markets have shelves full of them? Does travel make them taste better?

Just to be off topic a bit, while men may live longer back home, for most it's not "living", stuck in a rest home in front of a tv all day. In fact that is my idea of hell on earth, and if I die sooner by living in LOS, all the better for me.

Jeez, who has seen this many replies ever.

Anyway,it's pretty obvious that you're gay. No problem with that except most of the elderly guys here are heterosexual and were lucky enough to meet hi-so Thais in their work related or cultural activities. Their wives are deffo not bargirls, no way (despite the tats)

Anyway, good luck.

Whether these elderly guys who meet Hi So Thai girls, or bargirls, in Chaing Mai, Pattaya or anywhere else, these girls

are only with them for financial reasons, I would say that 99.9% of the time that is the case.

2 consecutive comments/posts about how Thai women are all with older guys for their wallets . . . ??

Aaaaaawww Possum - have you had your heart broken? Bless

Of course they are. Do you think those DDG women on the dating ads are looking for older men for their stunning looks?

However, any older man that actually believes the line "I lub you long time" is only fooling himself.

This is what you need to remember when you come here to live which is nothing like vacationing here. This culture is 180 opposite to yours. Here family comes first and I mean first. What you think is love is really just respect of your ability to provide for her and her family. You will have her respect as long as you remember this. If you fail or even if she perceives that your not willing to do this then there is no such thing as forgiveness only revenge and compensation. And she will initiate a rather elaborate scheme to defraud you of your assets. She will do this to insure she can continue to live in the manner she has grown accustomed to. When she decides to leave you there will be no indicators. When she is ready to leave you will be blindsided. Take a look at some of the so called happily married foreigners who have that passive subdued demeanor. That is the face of a man that is at the mercy of a woman that can take everything he has and that which is signed in her name. You can't win for the police, the laws and a nation of Thais stand against you. Keep your head and a stash..

Thanks for the laugh. You need to qualify what you say, as in "in SOME cases if you fail or even if she perceives that your not willing to do this then there is no such thing as forgiveness only revenge and compensation. And she will initiate a rather elaborate scheme to defraud you of your assets".

My wife knew before she married me the family were getting zip from me, and she knows I don't have any "assets" that she can defraud from me.

She works to give her own money to the family, not mine.

If she wants to leave me, that could happen regardless of how much I gave her, and I really don't want to take a washing machine and the microwave with me if I do have to leave.

She has nothing worth anything "signed in her name", which is what I and many on here are saying. Don't buy property, don't buy a car, don't have joint bank accounts etc etc.

That is the secret to peace of mind when marrying a Thai woman.

You sound as if you don't have any money anyway.

what a sad pathetic attitude he has. My This wife (30 years younger) has had all in her name or in joint accounts for for last 20 years even assets in UK and USA. Thats because 20 years ago i considered I might not last much longer and felt it just easier that way. Maybe I'm lucky or just not stupid. SO sad for those who are so jaded they cant trust their own shadows and i do feel a little pity for those poor sods who will probably never ever have a decent relationship or marriage.

Well, you can thank the western hag from hell that took me for everything I had at age 35 for that attitude. She was the love of my life and I trusted her implicitly till the end, and then she wasn't and I didn't. Everything is OK till it's not.

Not about to trust any woman with everything I have again.

Ever heard of a will? They have them in LOS.