landslide

She has a nice smile.  The guy who posted the disgraceful comment is a piece of garbage.

5 hours ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

I'd say, there is no single type of American: there are Americans of all colors/ethnicities, conservative and liberals, people of many religions, rich and poor, cultured and uncultured, well-educated and un-educated, loud and soft-spoken, etc etc. That's what happens when you are a country of people, who for the most part, originated from many other cultures and countries around the world.

 

Yet, I would say there is an American ideal (note this is the ideal, not something we've achieved) that most of us have ingrained --  and that is, as said in the U.S. Declaration of Independence, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

 

That's the kind of idea that brings people from other countries to America, a place where you can make something of yourself without necessarily being born rich or hi-so, and where you probably have more overall freedom than most places in the world. On our best days, we reach for those ideals. On our worst days, we embarrass ourselves by trashing them.

 

Great post.

4 hours ago, Redline said:

Hahaaa, but Fox News doesn't make you queasy?  Open your mind brother.  If you watch Fox, and these movies, I'm afraid you can't be taken seriously anyway.  Granted, there are a lot of idiots there, but it's a big populated country.  There are a lot of idiots in every country.  Education doesn't have everything to do with it ether, but I suggest you change your media choices because those are choices of the "uneducated"

The uneducated are those that limit themselves to one source or perspective of information.  Be it Fox News, MSNBC, CNN, BBC, or Al Jazeera, no one site gives a total picture of the issues, nor does it represent every individual's thoughts and aspirations.  Try to listen to many sources, hold your nose on some, but listen to as many as possible.  You may be surprised at what you learn.

" Israel kills Hamas fighter "

He was a Terrorist, not a fighter, and Hamas is a terrorists organization, not better than the people

how killed scores all over Europe, and it's about time, these rats will named correctly.....

That is your opinion, just as members of the French resistance were treated as terrorists by the Germans in WW 11 but as heroes and martyrs by the allies, until both sides can get round a table and come to some agreement these killings will continue and as long as the extremists on both sides are in control there is no chance of peace in the middle east

The French Resistance did not target civilian families.

Firstly good to hear you are on the mend and had good experience/doctor. Expect some might be interested in the cost - as you mention 2/3 of the price which means little without the price.

Bangkok Hospital AFAIK is actually Bangkok General Hospital/Bangkok Hospital China Town/Bangkok Heart Hospital and Wattanosoth Cancer Hospital - all in Bangkok. Those located outside of Bangkok may have there name but they are not branches but are part of the same Dusit Medical Services Network that Bangkok Hospital is in AFAIK.

Dear Lopburi3, Sorry not to mention the price, I was offered a package for THB 750K/7 days. Including some extras it came to just over 800K. Extras also depend on whether complications occur. In my case my smoker lungs needed some special attention.

About the exact company structure I have to pass, and am probably wrong. You are right, that they belong to Dusit Medical Services Network, Sorry about that, during my stay, I was more focused on what happend to my body and how I felt treated.

I am astonished to hear the price of your surgery. I had a quintuple bypass in 2011 in the USA. The thoracic surgeon who performed the bypass was elated at the results immediately after the surgery, but I suffered a complication within hours called ARDS (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome), unrelated to the bypass, and ended up on a ventilator in ICU for 2 weeks. I did recover and was released after 25 days. Cost of my surgery and hospital time was over $254,000, or $B8,900,000. I realise my costs were inflated by the complication, but it still would have been well over $100,000 even with no complications. At least I was insured, and my cost was exactly $2,000. I am glad you have a new lease on life. Enjoy it. I know that I do.

I spent two years working in Rio de Janeiro in the 90's, and returned many times over the next ten years to visit friends and vacation. The Rio of the 1990's and early 2000's is nothing like the Rio of today. Yes, if you visited the wrong area of the city, bad things could happen, though I never had that problem. Use common sense, and Rio was as safe as any large US city. That is not the case today. Rio has become a war zone. Whereas you could spend the day near the beach in Ipanema, Copacabana or Barra de Tijuca safely, now roving gangs of teens sweep through the beaches, snatching up any valuables laying loose. It is sad to see. The Brazilian people are warm and friendly for the most part, and it tears the good people apart to see what their country has fallen to. Brazil would have been better off foregoing the Olympics, and putting the money into infrastructure and education. Instead, money that should have been spent on the Olympics has found its way into the pockets of government officials and their cronies. I cannot see myself returning to Brazil. It is just not the same.

the Obama Administration is good at telling people how much better things are since he took office. Couple of interesting figures:

Food Stamps: Average monthly participation 2009 - 33,490,000, 2015 45,767,000

Real Median Household Income 2009 - $55,415, 2014 - $53,657

Per Capita Income 2009 - $29,140, 2014 - $28,889

No consideration in those figures for inflation, increased cost of Health Care, etc. So how are people in general better off?

There seems to be more animosity between races, income groups, etc. than ever. Almost 3,500 people killed in Chicago alone to date during his term in office. 85% of those African Americans. Detroit, Baltimore, Chicago all bastions of Democratic politics are a mess. There is more violence in the Middle East since he took office (you can blame Bush for the Iraq invasion) but I don't give Obama a very high score for pulling out troops too soon. Libya and ISIS are on Obama's watch (it is difficult to keep blaming Bush 7 years down the road) and the lack of a coherent policy with regard to who in the hell we are supporting in Syria has made the situation worse and last but not least, relations with Russia are at an all time low (although Putin seems to want to reset things now that he has firmly got Crimea and part of Ukraine under his control). Relations with Israel aren't particularly good either. Obama is as bad a Jesse Jackson when it comes to opening his mouth after police shootings of blacks before he even has the facts and now we have a black lunatic getting riled up by "black lives matter" and shooting white policemen. I would say in a general the United States was a better place to live and work before Obama took office, and no I don't blame it all on him. He surely is a smart man but he sure must be one of the most ill-equipped persons to take the office in a long time. His resume is basically one of teaching a short while at a university, a little time as a community organizer, and the rest of it feeding out of the public trough in politics and getting public paychecks all his life. Even I had the hope in 2008 that he would be the first black president and bring everyone together. That things are worse will be his legacy. So as much as many people think he can do no wrong, I sure would like to see what he has done right.

His leadership style has been one of obstinance and digging in when he doesn't get his way. Almost every political speech he has given has been used blame others for the problems. It has always been his way or the highway. That's his style.

.

The Obama administration claims the unemployment rate is 4.7% yet there are between 93 to 97 million out of the work force which makes it REALLY 33%.

93-97 million unemployed Americans. Lazy shiftless babies included.

No. Those numbers are for working age individuals only. Nice try at spinning the facts. You should apply for a job at MSNBC. You are a natural.

the Obama Administration is good at telling people how much better things are since he took office. Couple of interesting figures:

Food Stamps: Average monthly participation 2009 - 33,490,000, 2015 45,767,000

Real Median Household Income 2009 - $55,415, 2014 - $53,657

Per Capita Income 2009 - $29,140, 2014 - $28,889

No consideration in those figures for inflation, increased cost of Health Care, etc. So how are people in general better off?

There seems to be more animosity between races, income groups, etc. than ever. Almost 3,500 people killed in Chicago alone to date during his term in office. 85% of those African Americans. Detroit, Baltimore, Chicago all bastions of Democratic politics are a mess. There is more violence in the Middle East since he took office (you can blame Bush for the Iraq invasion) but I don't give Obama a very high score for pulling out troops too soon. Libya and ISIS are on Obama's watch (it is difficult to keep blaming Bush 7 years down the road) and the lack of a coherent policy with regard to who in the hell we are supporting in Syria has made the situation worse and last but not least, relations with Russia are at an all time low (although Putin seems to want to reset things now that he has firmly got Crimea and part of Ukraine under his control). Relations with Israel aren't particularly good either. Obama is as bad a Jesse Jackson when it comes to opening his mouth after police shootings of blacks before he even has the facts and now we have a black lunatic getting riled up by "black lives matter" and shooting white policemen. I would say in a general the United States was a better place to live and work before Obama took office, and no I don't blame it all on him. He surely is a smart man but he sure must be one of the most ill-equipped persons to take the office in a long time. His resume is basically one of teaching a short while at a university, a little time as a community organizer, and the rest of it feeding out of the public trough in politics and getting public paychecks all his life. Even I had the hope in 2008 that he would be the first black president and bring everyone together. That things are worse will be his legacy. So as much as many people think he can do no wrong, I sure would like to see what he has done right.

His leadership style has been one of obstinance and digging in when he doesn't get his way. Almost every political speech he has given has been used blame others for the problems. It has always been his way or the highway. That's his style.

.

WOW!!! Exceptionally well said.

At the start of WW II, Russia attacked Finland while Germany was invading Poland. The Finns handed the Russians their hats, inflicting tremendous losses on the Russian forces. When Hitler turned on Russia, Russian forces immediately backed off the invasion of Finland. Even when the tide of war turned, and Russia was receiving Allied support, they did not attempt to invade Finland again. You don't mess with the Finns.

I don't get it.

If as the article stated that she had health problems since she was young surely there would have been travel insurance and this would cover the medical expenses .

If not and not trying to be smart but we have seen many times tourists not taking out travel insurance and ending up being stuck with hefty bills .

36,000 and rising and I didn't know if it's true about their statement about its Thai culture not turning off the machine. My wife did it for her father.

Travel insurance doesn't cover preexisting conditions.

I am from the USA, and always buy travel medical insurance with medical evacuation included. The policy specically states no exclusions for pre-existing conditions. I'm 62, and the cost is about $210 for 4 weeks of coverage. I usually buy from American Express.

Soon, they'll need to eat those shoes.

I know it happens all over the world, but why do women stay with abusive louts like this clown?

Another illegal alien. Oh well.

Didn't North Korea abduct many Japanese in the 60's and 70's to use as training for espionage agents. That came out about 12 years ago. I am sure that the NK have threatened the lady's relatives with severe punishment if they don't persuade the women to return.

Flamingo is not the worst place in Rio, but athletes would be safer training in Ipanema, Leblon or Copacabana. Police tend to be out in force in these areas, since they are the wealthier parts of Rio. Unfortunately, Flamingo is close to Centro, which is crime central as dark approaches.

This is normal in Brazil. I spent a couple of years working in Rio de Janeiro in the 90's. Brazilian bureaucracy makes Thailand look efficient.

You can do it online if you register at immigration to get a user name and password.

Yes Ubonjoe .Yesterday one of the officers made the online registration for me.

At least the officer assisted you in setting up the online registration. You don't always see that in Thai government.

The shooter was born in New York, to Afgan immigrant parents. He was investigated twice by the FBI. The first time was in 2013, when fellow employees were alarmed by statements he made in support of Islamic tettorism. In 2014, he was interviewed regarding contact he had with the first US suicide bomber in Syria, who was also from Fort Pierce, where Moteen (the shooter) lived. In both instances, the FBI took no further action. Moteen was employed since 2007 with a security company, and was trained and proficient with weapons. Moteen was married, but his wife divorced him due to his violent actions towards her. Imediately prior to his assault, he called 911 and gave his name and pledged allegiance to ISIS and its leader. This guy bought both weapons two weeks ago, and his background check showed no negatives. I find that very strange.

You make some very good points...myself, I hold dear the right to own a gun, and I do...I think guns save far more lives than anyone can estimate...and most gun violence occurs between thugs and and punks killing each other, which to be brutally honest, is a favor to society...whenever anything such as this tragedy happens, liberals in the usa reflexively want to ban weapons and take away a very effective means of self-defense...for example, just imagine if a couple of armed, trained, and responsible people had been in the club at the time of the assault...I think you hit on some issues that could easily limit the availability of guns to individuals who are misguided, careless, mentally ill, or violent. Seems straight forward that if someone openly avows violence to a member of law enforcement...chronic mental health issues...a documented history of violence...or refusal to complete ongoing education on gun safety and use...then he/she should not have access to guns...

of course, in the usa at least, it's so much easier to purchase a gun illegally than legally...so maybe gun access is an issue that will take decades to resolve...

I don't disagree with your post. What I find strange is this individual worked for a security company, which, among other things, provides security for government instituions. He has twice been interviewed due to possible complicity in terrorist threats and actions. His ex-wife divorced him due to an explosive temper. These things should have precluded him from a security job, and should have been discovered in the background check when buying his weapons, but they obviously weren't.

The shooter was born in New York, to Afgan immigrant parents. He was investigated twice by the FBI. The first time was in 2013, when fellow employees were alarmed by statements he made in support of Islamic tettorism. In 2014, he was interviewed regarding contact he had with the first US suicide bomber in Syria, who was also from Fort Pierce, where Moteen (the shooter) lived. In both instances, the FBI took no further action. Moteen was employed since 2007 with a security company, and was trained and proficient with weapons. Moteen was married, but his wife divorced him due to his violent actions towards her. Imediately prior to his assault, he called 911 and gave his name and pledged allegiance to ISIS and its leader. This guy bought both weapons two weeks ago, and his background check showed no negatives. I find that very strange.

There will be zero punishment.

It will be interesting to see the reaction when the book "Crisis of Character" comes out this month. It is not released yet, and it is currently #1 on Amazon's Best Sellers List. It appears to be extremely unflattering to Billy and Hillary, written by a member of their security team in the White House. First chapter includes a recount of Hillary throwing a vase at Billy in the residence quarters, giving him quite the black eye. And this was before the Lewinsky scandal.

My father had the same symptoms at 60, ie; bleeding from the anus and vomiting blood. He ended up being diagnosed with a sever perforated ulcer. He was taken to the emergency room and was put in intensive care. The doctor told him that it was good he had a strong heart, as the symptoms could have easily killed him. He did recover, and is alive and kicking today at 86. My Dad lived on Maalox, an antacid, due to the stress of his work. All it did was mask the problems. After recovering, he quit coffee and antacids, and learned to moderate the stress.

My condolences for the man's family.

If you make it to Portland, Oregon, the Thai Consulate there is quick. I was in at 9 am and out at 9:45

am with a SETV. I am a US citizen, though.

Perhaps you could offer him his price. if he signs a long term contract and pays up front.