spidermike007

No. Higher education is higher education, it doesn't matter, even just a couple of years at a small college is a really big deal for an upcountry gal. It shows a huge amount of initiative, and it likely opened her mind to a dramatic degree. Kudos to your gal. She sounds like a keeper!

This is how to keep Thailand safe and boost tourism, go after people who are overstaying their visa. By all means ignore human trafficking, ignored drug smuggling, ignore corrupt policemen, ignore corrupt customs and immigration officials, ignore public and traffic safety, and ignore the dozen issues that were plaguing tourism prior to covid. Just keep on marching backwards into tourism oblivion.

When I was living and working in India I realized that many of the beggars were doing this professionally or working for professionals who were collecting a significant amount of money from their work. So I started carrying around a daypack with fruit inside it, and when I would be approached by a beggar I would offer them a banana or an orange. The professionals would look at me with a great deal of disdain, whereas the real beggars would accept the fruit with gratitude as they were truly hungry. It worked! Helping people in need is a wonderful thing, and this minister is likely a wealthy man who is very much out of touch with reality, and is displaying very little in the way of humanity and compassion. Fools like this simply need to be ignored with all the strength of our being.

I'm sure many on this forum are going to insist that weed is evil and weed causes people to do horrific things, and that couldn't be further from the truth. Weed may strip one of ambition, and weed may make people lazy and lethargic, but it certainly doesn't make people violent. If anything the opposite is the case, these guys are just psychopathic super freaks, and whether straight or stoned they had a propensity toward violence, they were sorry, dark souls, with absolutely no emotional development, nor good parenting, and sooner or later they were bound to act in a tragic manner.

Though absolute contentment must be a beautiful state of mind, it is not something most of us are blessed with, in case you have not noticed. The fact that I complain, does not mean I do not love Thailand, nor most of it's people. I do. I love my life here. I have a very good life here. But, I do have some complaints, and there are some things I would love to see improved. I should leave because of that? Having said that I do agree to some extent, complaining is one thing, but whining and moaning all the time is quite another. I may seem obsessed with politics to some, but I'm really enjoying my life here, and I treasure every day that I spend in Thailand. It really beats the hell out of my life back in broken down America.

I know you'll accuse me of being a conspiracy theorist again, but I believe that the Deep State controls anyone who's in power, they are not partisan, so they controlled Biden just like their controlling Trump. And the last thing in the world they wanted was for that list to be released and that's likely the reason why they had Epstein killed.

You mean more than the one deal that he struck with the UK, and the framework of a deal that he's working on with China, that isn't a deal yet? Wow. Impressive.

Oh yes for sure, God will punish those who criticize his savior and prophet Saint Donald. Actually there's a special place in hell for people who strip millions of grandparents of their health care and Medicaid, and deny some of the poorest people in the world medicine, to pay for another missile or two, and give massive tax cuts to their billionaire buddies. Keep on drinking the Kool-Aid, it's good stuff, delusion can be a very powerful thing.

Oh it seems like I've hit a rather sensitive spot didn't I? You hate to hear criticism of your master don't you?

A rather hilarious anecdote to this whole Epstein scandal. “Remember when we learned that our wealthiest and most powerful people were connected to a guy who ran a literal child sex trafficking ring?” Vance wrote in 2021 on X. “And then that guy died mysteriously in jail? And now we just don’t talk about it.” Vance was just as adamant in suggesting powerful figures colluded with Epstein, only for the Justice Department and FBI to announce Sunday that they did not find the “incriminating” list he was rumored to have — prompting Vance’s old posts to resurface. “What possible interest would the US government have in keeping Epstein’s clients secret? Oh…,” 0he wrote on X in 2021, before doubling down in another post: “If you’re a journalist and you’re not asking questions about this case you should be ashamed of yourself.” Many conservatives are condemning Patel and Bongino on social media for what they deem to be a dishonest reversal on Epstein’s death. Vance is now receiving similar backlash, as he has yet to react to the DOJ’s findings. We all know that Vance had a tremendous amount of disrespect and dislike for Trump prior to the opportunity to become VP. Over the course of history many have sold their souls for power, this is such a great example of that moral bankruptcy.

Trump is up to his usual whining, moaning, and complaining, that's just who and what he is, he is a weak victim and a snowflake. The reality is that his policies are making America weaker by the day, and strengthening China on a dozen different levels. He's pushing the world towards China and even countries that were hesitant to do business with China are now seeing them as a more attractive option. Nobody wants to do business with a bully and the world is saying no to America, and who's going to pay the cost for that? The American people. We are witnessing a very simple-minded man who is dramatically precipitating the downfall of the American Empire. The Trump administration does not intend to immediately impose an additional 10% tariff against BRICS nations, as threatened, but will proceed if individual countries take policies his administration deems "anti-American," according to a source familiar with the matter. At the end of the BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro, Lula was defiant when asked by journalists about Trump's tariff threat: "The world has changed. We don't want an emperor." "This is a set of countries that wants to find another way of organizing the world from the economic perspective," he said of the bloc. "I think that's why the BRICS are making people uncomfortable." With forums such as the G7 and G20 groups of major economies hamstrung by divisions and Trump's disruptive, opens new tab "America First" approach, the BRICS group has presented itself as a haven for multilateral diplomacy amid violent conflicts and trade wars. In a joint statement released on Sunday afternoon, leaders at the summit warned that the rise in tariffs threatened global trade. The original BRICS group gathered leaders from Brazil, Russia, India and China at its first summit in 2009. The bloc later added South Africa and last year included Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates as members. Saudi Arabia formally accepting an invitation to full membership, but is participating as a partner country. BRICS now represent more than half of the world's population. Goodbye America. See ya. You had a good run. More than 30 nations have expressed interest in participating in the BRICS, either as full members or partners.

Call the police, the neighbors are having sex, they're under 22, arrest them, jail them, prosecute them, for doing the most natural thing in the world that people have been doing since the beginning of mankind. Laws will stop them, we are omnipotent, and nobody will defy our laws. If this clown was not a political activist the only other job that might have been available to him would be as a sanitation worker, picking up trash.

It appears to some of us that America's isolationist policies and tariffs are alienating much of the world, so my question is will this be a golden moment for both Canada and China, amongst others? Trumps plan to make America great again has instead made Canada stronger, more independent, and more competitive than ever before. While American companies are struggling with higher costs and disrupted supply chains, Canadian companies are accessing new markets, forming new partnerships, and building new capabilities that will serve them for generations. This is where the story takes an even more dramatic turn because what happened next proved that Canada's transformation wasn't just about economics, it was about something far more fundamental, it was about respect, dignity and the right of sovereign nations to determine their own destiny. When Trump realized that his tariff strategy had backfired spectacularly, he did what he always does when faced with failure, he doubled down, instead of acknowledging that his approach had been counterproductive, he threatened even more aggressive measures, he talked about 75% tariffs, about complete trade cutoffs, about economic warfare that would force Canada to its knees. But this time something was different, this time Canada wasn't afraid, the reality is more devastating than anyone in Washington wants to admit. While Trump celebrates his supposed tariff victories, the true cost of his economic warfare is becoming impossible to ignore. American families are paying the price quite literally as companies like Walmart, Amazon and Subaru have increased costs and passed them onto consumers. But here's what makes this story truly remarkable, Canada isn't just weathering the storm anymore, they're thriving in spite of it. Mark Carney's brilliant strategic pivot away from American dependency has created something unprecedented, a blueprint for economic independence that other nations are now studying carefully, the quiet revolution that began with rejecting Canadian steel, has evolved into a comprehensive realignment of global partnerships. The numbers tell the story better than any political speech could, Canada's defense spending is surging toward NATO's 2% target but with a crucial difference, instead of funneling 70 to 80% of that money into American defense contractors as they've done for decades, Canada is building domestic capacity. The defense procurement agency is centralizing decisions, prioritizing Canadian steel, Canadian aluminum, far superior Canadian lumber, and Canadian critical minerals. It's economic nationalism, without the chaos, and strategy without the shouting. Trump's threats perfectly encapsulates everything wrong with his approach, this isn't alliance building, it's extortion. Carney's response has been swift and decisive, Canada is exploring Swedish fighter jets, European Defense Partnerships, and technological independence. The message is clear, if America wants to treat allies like customers, those allies will shop elsewhere. The transformation extends far beyond military procurement, as Canada's pivot to European markets has accelerated dramatically since Trump's latest tariff escalation. Trade delegations that once focused primarily on American partnerships are now establishing deep ties with London, Paris, Beijing and Berlin. The psychological shift is just as important as the economic one, for the first time in generations Canadian leadership is openly questioning whether an American partnership is worth the constant uncertainty and humiliation. What's most striking about Canada's approach is its discipline, there are no angry and undisciplined tweets, no juvenile public tantrums, no threats of retaliation, but instead there's methodical execution of a long-term strategy that slowly but steadily reduces dependence on an unreliable partner. Every canceled American contract, every new European partnership, every investment in domestic capacity represents another step away from the economic relationship that has defined North America for decades. And the ripple effects are already visible across other American allies. If Canada, America's most integrated partner can successfully diversify away from dependence on Washington what's stopping others from following the same path? European leaders are watching carefully as Canada demonstrates that there's life beyond American economic hegemony, the quiet Canadian Revolution is becoming a case study in strategic independence. Trump's tariff war was supposed to bring manufacturing back to America and force allies into submission, but instead it's accelerating the exact opposite outcome. American Supply chains are disrupted, costs are rising, and the most reliable partner in North America is quietly building an alternative future. The art of the deal has become the art of self-destruction, and the world is taking notes. Canada's trade war victory isn't measured in dramatic headlines or political theater, it's measured in steady progress toward economic sovereignty, and strengthen partnerships with reliable allies, and in the quiet confidence that comes from no longer needing to fear the next presidential tweet. As Trump continues his chaotic approach to international relations, Canada has chosen a different path, strategic, patient and ultimately more powerful than any tariff could ever be. If the Communist Party of China (CPC) has its way, the People’s Republic will emerge as the new global hegemon. China’s recently published white paper on national security, its first ever, offers a glimpse into the CPC’s plans. Reflecting President Xi Jinping’s “holistic national security concept,” the document articulates an expansive, integrated approach, encompassing political, economic, military, technological, cultural, and societal domains. And unlike previous defense-focused white papers, it establishes political security – specifically, the CPC’s leadership – as the foundation of national stability, essential to enable China to act as a stabilizing force in a turbulent world. That turbulence, China asserts, has provided a critical opening for China to position itself as a stable and certain actor in regional and global affairs, a champion of multilateralism, an investor in and defender of the Global South, and a just peacemaker. Within Asia, this vision has materialized in “treaties of good-neighborliness and friendly cooperation” between China and nine countries, and in China’s promotion of greater regional security cooperation, including with the ASEAN countries. More broadly, China is touting Xi’s Global Security Initiative (GSI), which was launched in 2022 as an alternative to Western-led security frameworks that can support broad-based, “win-win” cooperation on “complex and intertwined security challenges.” But as Trump’s America abandons that approach and alienates more of the world, China’s vision, focused on fortifying CPC control and building alternative frameworks for global engagement, has gained greater appeal.

A nitwit with power can cause alot of damage.

I wondered how many people were going to have to die before Kennedy finally admitted that there might be a way to prevent measles, just like there has been for so many decades. At least the dunce of the Kennedy family is finally doing something smart. I wondered when that would happen. Very unlike him.

Any older than that, and they really don't have much to talk about.

How does a supporter of his defend an incoherent and rambling statement like this one? There was ever any doubt about his senility this is empirical proof. This is the reply from the smartest and most articulate man in the world when asked about the 90 deals in 90 days that he promised. “Oh, we’ve spoken to everybody. We know every. It’s all done. I told you. I told you we’ll make some deals, but for the most part we’re gonna send a letter. We’re gonna say, ‘Welcome to the United States. If you’d like to participate in the greatest, most successful country ever.’ I mean, we’re doing better than ever. We have. I don’t think. And you’re gonna see these numbers soon. We’ve never had numbers like this. We’ve never had investment like this. Uh, we have more than 90. We’re gonna have much more than 90. But most of those are gonna be sent a letter. This is exactly what I said. Now, we’ve made a deal with United Kingdom. We’ve made a deal with China. We’ve made a deal. We’re close to making a deal with India. Others, we’ve met with, and we don’t think we’re gonna be able to make a deal. So, we just send them a letter. ‘Do you wanna, do you wanna play ball? This is what you have to pay.’ So, we’re, as far as I’m concerned, we’re done. We’re sending out letters to various countries, telling them how much tariffs they have to pay. Some will maybe adjust a little bit depending if they have a, you know, cause. We’re not gonna be unfair about it. And actually, it’s a small fraction compared to what we should be getting. We should be. We could be asking for much more. But for the sake of relationships that we’ve had with a lot of really good countries, we’re doing the way I do it. But we could be getting a lot more. We could ask for a lot more than what we’re asking for.”

Yes my original thought of the day is how Mark Carney has completely outsmarted Trump, done a total pivot toward the EU, realigned Canada's priorities so that all their defense needs are going to be met through the EU, and announce major trading agreements with EU Nations and China, making America less relevant by the day. I know as a devotee it upsets you to hear these kind of things, but truth is truth as they say. If there's anything you can say about Trump it's that he dramatically overestimated his influence. The world is just saying NO thanks.

Evil does not even begin to describe what this man is. A reckless, callow, ungodly, black hearted narcissistic psychopath is closer to the mark.

President Donald Trump has avoided talking about his plan to scrap the federal disaster response agency after the catastrophic flash flood in Texas that killed more than 100 people, including children attending a girls-only camp. Asked shortly after the disaster whether he still intended to phase out the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Trump said it wasn’t the right time to talk about it. Nor did he mention such plans during a nearly two-hour meeting with his Cabinet on Tuesday. The flood and its devastation appear to have, for the moment, tamped down talk by Trump and Noem of scaling back FEMA, which helps states respond after hurricanes, tornadoes and other natural disasters by providing food, water and temporary housing and federal financial and other assistance. Real disasters? Assistence is still needed? Huh. Maybe is was a bone headed idea after all.

Better to sniff than to act on one's impulses. Don is as guilty as they come. He was even caught on videotape with Epstein saying how he likes them very young. How young? 15? Quite likely. He is sufficiently bent morally to embrace that sort of action.

I've never heard of a single expat actually choosing Cuba. I've been there many times and though I love the people and the culture, the place is so spectacularly dysfunctional, and the police are so heinous, I stopped traveling there 20 years ago. Around the time the chief cockroach started losing his mind. Before he croaked.

Yes. But only 4 months or so, per year. The rest of the time i'd be hopping around between southern Italy, Turkey, possibly Morocco, and several other spots. But since I'm not wealthy enough to support that kind of lifestyle, Thailand works for me 9 to 10 months of the year.

Sharia and any organization or group that supports Sharia must be stopped. And no rights whatsoever should be accorded to these organizations. The imposition of Sharia law is simply a way for those men, with little to no self esteem, to keep the women as repressed as possible. Nothing religious about anything in their game. It is all a big show. A rather heinous one, at that. This is 13th century, puerile, nasty, uncivilized, fake puritan nonsense. There is alot of confusion within the Muslim religion, and Sharia law, with regard to sex, fun, singing, dancing and joy in general. Very outdated and fairly ridiculous concepts, in this day and age. Let us be thankful we are not subject to such nonsense. Something must be done to keep out the extremist super freaks. Their religion may work for them in Saudi, Kuwait, Yemen, Sudan or Somalia. That same ultra conservative fanatislcism, is not wanted, needed, nor desirable in Western nations. Only moderates need apply should be the policy. And there should be a standard of willingness to assimilate, and the burden should be on the family to prove the burden is met. I believe immigration policy should be reformed to the point where it should be staged, and all Muslim families should show a willingness to assimilate. I also believe that families with Muslim daughters who are teenagers can start by proving that they have participated in a bikini contest, and for teenage boys they must show a burden of proof that they're not affiliated with any of the local madrasas. Are we serious about keeping our nation's safe from extremists, or not?

Stop trying to make the monkeys as useless as the politicians! It was a big mistake to get the Monkey Union involved. They are unfair negotiators.