JAG

Barbie Goebbels?

I am not sure that Musk is really a Nazi, in the conventional sense. He is as all know extremely wealthy, but it seems he has little interest in any of the material benefits of such wealth. His range of partners and children rather suggests no interest or commitment to conventional family. He is interested in power - he is astute enough to realise that he cannot gain it through election - he is too bizarre a figure for that, but he is astute enough to realise that in Trump he can buy it! Not buy influence to benefit himself, the probable aim of his fellow oligarchs, but buy power that he can wield. Trump however is driven by narcissism, which feeds off wealth; he is attracted by the opulent trappings of conspicuous wealth, the gold elevators, gold plated toilets, gold cherubs over the doors to the Oval Office (taste is not a factor!). In Musk he sees a source of wealth, one which will allow him to continue to enjoy these trappings despite his somewhat ramshackle and indebted business empires. He allows Musk to carry on, even if it jars, witness his remarkable impression of a bulldog chewing a wasp when Elon and child were showboating in the Oval Office. Money, Trump wants, needs, lusts after it, relies on it; Musk has it. That's why, as I said before, I think that the Trump/Musk axis will last - it benefits, feeds their different ambitions. It is not really a reflection of conventional politics.

I believe the phrase, when referring to a Westerner who has spent many years in China, is " China Hand". A ham is a large cut of pork (usually but not always a leg) which has been cured, using a variety of recipes, to preserve it. It is often named for it's area of origin, Wiltshire Ham, Westphalian Ham, but to the best of my knowledge (admittedly incomplete) there is no "China Ham". However if you wish to be known as a leg of pork, cured to a particular oriental recipe, who am I to stand in your way!

It is his duty, as the boards leading troll...

I am currently in Thailand on a visa waiver entry. I have been here for over 12 years. initially on a series of Non O multiple entry visas from Savannakhet, then when COVID struck I obtained a retirement extension. Then due to a debilitating injury, and subsequent extensive hospital stays and surgeries I was unable to renew the extension. At my local Immigration Office suggestion I have been using Visa Waiver entry, each extended by up to 3 months (30 days and then 60 days). Living near Chiang Khong border "in/outs were very easy. Chiang Khong has lately become increasingly difficult, requiring a 2 day stay in Laos. Last weekend I flew to KL and back, my local IO advised me the airport woud be no problem. Don Muang immigration pulled me over however. The officer was very helpful, sympathetic, considered all the circumstances, medical, daughter at university, and so forth, but firmly advised me that this entry would likely be the last one I was allowed. We talked about getting a visa, and had an interesting conversation on the options. Anyway, this tale of woe aside, I need to start by getting a 90 day Non O ( or possibly a tourist visa). Can anyone advise me, are they still available from Savannakhet, or even in Thailand? I really don't want to travel to UK if I can help it.

Well they do say that it takes one to know one!

You have my sympathy, I had a similar event some 4 years ago. I stepped on a piece of rebar wire sticking out of the ground. Massive infection, much of my foot cut away, infection damaged many other organs. Left me ruined physically, including Diabetes 2.

One of the symptoms of Diabetes is that minor wounds often take a very long time to heal. Given that the bullet wound to his ear, sustained in July last year, and requiring a dressing ( and of course an iconic "Iwo Jima" moment, quite remarkable for one who has just been shot!) appears to have healed within days, and left no scars, then one can conclude that he does not suffer from Diabetes. Indeed, the miraculous recovery is a strong testament to his robust constitution and the astonishing recuperative powers of Messrs McDonald's and Colonel Saunders! Perhaps, in view of their successful participation, the saluting Air Force personnel at the foot of the stairs could be replaced by a pair of those lifesize plastic figures which stand outside their restaurants, one for each character? We could perhaps pilot this scheme on his eagerly anticipated state visit to the UK!

That being the case, surely then logic dictates that the sensible, practical and certainly in terms of the IRS lucrative thing to do would be to arrange some sort of permit or visa which allows them to live, work and pay tax in the US? Less gratifying perhaps than having Honan's goons roaming the streets of Democrat governed cities, smashing car windows to drag people out of cars whilst they were waiting for their lawyers, lifting them on the streets and then transferring them to detention centres at the other end of the country to keep one step ahead of "habeas corpus"!

"An investigation is now underway to determine whether the act was intentional or due to reckless driving under the influence."

Rather an enlightening definition of most "canoe" beer, extracted from waste material using bacteria"!

It does say that the Police detained him to ascertain whether he was driving under the influence.

Spent some hours at Kuala Lumpur Airport this morning, before flying to Don Muang. The place was awash with Indians, they jump queues at checkout, coffee shops, the gate, all the time. I walk with a cane, and got barged aside several times, and actually pushed over at the end of one of those moving walkway things by a bunch of them in a hurry. I got picked up and dusted down by some Malaysian airport staff, they did not conceal their contempt. Loads of them sitting around on the floor at Don Muang as well. Yes it's only a snapshot, not empirical evidence, but doesn't look good.

Well they got away with it with Carlsberg...

Paper ballot, pencil attached to the voting booth with a bit of string. Can't hack a pencil!

Unfortunately he does so with the change lever set to automatic, and waves the weapon around a lot whilst doing so!

You don't bite the hand that feeds you.

How very diverse! He is sitting down, the two women (one I assume is his wife) stand behind him!

No problem - the reason I "called it" is that "papist" is in the UK (particularly in Northern Ireland) a derogatory term for a Catholic!

Deep sigh - vaccination does not guarantee that you will not contract the disease - but, as with the COVID vaccine, it 1) reduces significantly the possibility of getting the disease, 2) reduces the severity of the disease.

Since you are a resident of Japan, who only visited Thailand for a wedding a couple of weeks ago, why are you bothered? Or are you asking on behalf of friends - Bob Smith and Lewie London perhaps?

Freudian slip there?

Producing the electricity does. Here in Chiang Rai EVs have significantly increased demand for electricity. This is being met by importing electricity from Laos, electricity generated by burning lignite (brown coal), probably the most polluting of fossil fuels. Lots of CO2!

I don't think that they use "telegraph", "Signal" seems to be the favoured platform for spreading war plans!

Just as well that you are receiving treatment - without it you could end up like those fellows Bob Smith or Lewis London!