JAG

Also, it has got a really good fire alarm!

They were. Terrible places and terrible things were done. My brother was adopted, at least partly, to prevent him and his natural mother (my aunt) being sent off to one in 1958. They existed in England too, albeit less savage and cruel in the way they operated. The whole business was traumatic for my aunt, who emigrated shortly after to Canada, and for my brother when he was told what had happened, in his late teens. All concerned had been sworn to secrecy, that was lifted the day my grandmother died. Families! Perhaps in 1958, for a staunch Catholic family it was the best of available options? I am not sure that they should be regarded as indicative of the social mores of the church 65 years on.

Wasn't this exhaustively covered in a TV documentary by RTE 10 or so years ago?

I must confess that I am surprised, given the regularity with which you make comments upon the government of The United Kingdom, and being as how you are a British citizen (albeit one who clearly hankers after the smack of firm government as delivered by the flabby paws of a foreign head of state), that your understanding of our constitution is so limited that you think that the King has any executive powers over our borders. Frankly I doubt whether he even owns a sharpie!

Certainly up past Gloucester. Very dodgy - always dark up that way!

I don't want to be pedantic, (well actuallyI do), but Queen Elisabeth was Queen of Canada and King Charles is King of Canada. So for them to host a state visit - which means by definition a visit by the head of state of a foreign country means that they would be hosting themselves. Trudeau (and Carney) as their Prime Ministers are constitutionally far more important than and will have more frequent and meaningful consultations than those enjoyed (?) with Trump. Of course the decision as to whether to vote for a President is one for the Canadian people - but they may wish to ponder on the malignant, fat, spray tanned orange presence looming over their southern border!

I suspect they will - his narcissistic streak should be well sated by that inflatable model of him which we can be sure will be bobbing over the rooftops of the Royal Borough of Windsor!

Albeit one able to write coherently, grammatically, spell and use punctuation!

I too visited Belsen in the 70s. There was at the time no museum, just some display boards which explained, in several languages, what happened there. Perhaps you should have played attention? It was very clear. The Officer or NCO in charge of your party should have explained it. Hohne, Soltau and Fallingbostel Garrisons had policies that newly arrived soldiers were to be taken to the site of the camp. There was a briefing pack which was supposed to be used. I know, I conductedseveral such tours. The Dutch troops stationed in the area did similar, after all, many of the victims (Anne Frank) were Dutch. Bergen Belsen was a holding camp, a "concentration camp", not an extermination camp, nor a labour camp. Very different to Auschwitz. As the borders of the Reich shrank, particularly in the east, prisoners were brought there and dumped. The huge numbers of deaths were from starvation, neglect and disease - notably typhus, together of course with wilful and deliberate neglect by the guards, several of whom were later hung after military trials at Luneberg for the savage part they played in the vile business. Belsen was of course liberated by British Troops, it's liberation and the subsequent treatment and rehabilitation of it's prisoners is exceptionally well documented, filmed, written about and there is much eye witness testimony. I knew a girl whose father had been amongst the troops who found the place. 30 years on he was still having nightmares. You may of course choose not to believe it, but it does not reflect well on you; after all, Holocaust Denial can result from political beliefs, as in the case of this Polish fellow, or wilful ignorance.

So if we follow that logic (dangerous I will admit) getting on for 60% of Americans are "illegals"? Once the big beautiful mass deportations are completed the place will be empty!

Fake News! Coming from Chaiyna! Mind you, if there is a drop in recorded violent crime, could it be that it is because many of the usual perpetrators are attracted to joining the swelling masked ranks of ICE?🤔

I can't find winter tyres for my Yamaha Spark anywhere here in Thailand - most perplexing!

Somebody at least teach him to iron a shirt!

Perhaps we need to differentiate between "soft diplomacy" and "soggy diplomacy". There is little if any public appetite for this visit, it was a pretty egregious example of our Prime Minister manipulating the monarchy to suit his own political purposes ( principally poll ratings I suspect). Heaven knows what crass statements will emerge! I wonder if he will get to chat about mutual friends with The Duke of York? It really would be very funny if escorts to any carriage processions were to be provided by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police!

I live on its route between Chiang Rai and Chiang Khong. They are certainly getting on with it. I look forward to it opening.

I am starting to feel concerned about failing so many stereotypes - I was in the Army for many years and I really am not good at killing people - at least not without artillery (I was a gunner). When I retired from the Army I became a teacher, but I am neither miserable nor an alcoholic. Now retired from that, I stick around and am putting my daughter through university. I do like to go for the occasional drink, and confess to enjoying chatting and flirting with a couple of girls with whom I am friends. I have never attempted to persuade them to sleep with me, nor do I return with a sharp object and an iron bar! Perhaps I need advice to enable me to conform? I rather feel that I am missing out somewhere!

Why are you posting in "cod Latin" - is to indicate your educational superiority?

Says the man who claims it is down to Mossad and Nethanayu! Face it, we are both advancing opinions. Neither of us can prove anything, because the Trump Administrations refusal to release the evidence which may refute or confirm my opinions. Save the "pearl clutching", I am not accusing anyone on this forum of paedophilia (that may be grounds for a ban), I am suggesting that there is considerable circumstantial evidence that Trump may be one; the files may go a long way to disproving that, or they may provide yet more evidence. He won't release them. It is an opinion, a suspicion, based as I said on circumstantial evidence. If you think that such opinions should not be voiced then perhaps you should make a start by not voicing suspicions about Israeli and Mossad involvement, based on nothing more concrete than Epstein having a "Jewish surname"?

You have your views, I however, along with quite a few others, think he is a nonce, who has been caught out, and is trying to wriggle off the hook.

He may be, but is the "update" based on anything other than your analysis of his accent whilst shouting in Thai whilst drunk, taken from a mobile phone video.

Video and audio clips of "Epstein, like me, likes them young" Recorded incidents of "visiting" changing rooms at beauty pageants... Says the man who blames it all on Mossad!

The "starting requirements" to be employed as a teacher in a school are: a degree ( the subject is non specific), a teaching qualification (TEFL certificate) issued by a training establishment recognised by the Thai ministry (not usually an "online qualification") a clear "police criminal record report", and, effectively if not mandatory being under the age of 50. Schools can and do impose other requirements, for example I taught at a Catholic School, wherever possible they wanted Catholic teachers. Most will require you to teach at least one demonstration lesson, and most will have a probationary period during which you are assessed. The school at which I taught required teachers to lodge lesson plans with the Head of Department every week, and these were on occasion c hedged by the Principal. You also need to be from one of the recognised native English speaking countries or take, and pass with a high score the appropriate English test - I can't remember which one off hand (CELTA?). I have a Dutch friend who spoke excellent English, but he had to take that exam. A proper TEFL is no sinecure, mine involved four weeks of intense classroom study, several grammar tests and written papers, and at least half a dozen rigourously assessed teaching practices carried out in Thai schools. Particular attention was paid to the preparation of, and following proper lesson plans. The myth that all you have to do is turn up and be white is just that - a myth! There are, inevitably, a number of "contractors" or "agencies" who get around these rules - they will supply teachers from other countries (mainly African), in return retaining a proportion of the salary, which the school pays to them as contractors and which they pass on to the teacher. I was lucky not to need a non-B visa, I was married to a Thai and was able to get a work permit with a non A based on marriage. All in all, a lot of hoops to clamber through for @Quentin Zen's stereotypical piss head looking for the opportunity to grope schoolgirls wouldn't you say?

I suspect, as I have explained in other posts, that he failed to get a job! Except perhaps @Quentin Zen?

Personally I find your obsession with teachers, and assumption that they are all drunken whoremongering pedophiles creepy. You sneer at low salaries, so tell us, How do they afford all the excesses you list on the 30K you assume they earn? Mind you, given the huge wealth you so often boast about your grasp on reality- in terms of money certainly, is perhaps doubtful! No, I (and probably most other teachers, working or retired on this forum) rather suspect that you either failed to get a job or were dismissed from the "profession". What was it, inadequate qualifications, rejected at interview or sacked for misbehaviour, laziness, drunkenness perhaps or simple incompetence? You can say what you say as much as you like - people have you "sussed" as rather a strange obsessed fellow, who has an epic chip on your shoulder for some reason, shouting in the wilderness!

I wouldn't place too much weight on the former American soldier bit. Given the size of the US military, a lot of American males will have been in it. He does seem to be a plonker though doesn't he? Security chaps were effective.