spidermike007

Shout is an awful song. Dreadful. I cannot listen to it either. They had a few other hits, that were far too pop. But, the other stuff, that went under the radar, and did not get radio play was amazing. Worth a listen.

I did not consider any of those thoughts particularly deep. Same old, same old. The best advice relates to any women here, bar girl or not. It is simply to take your time getting to know her, before you commit, or devote any real money to her, or her family. Time is ALWAYS our ally, and never theirs. So take you time, get to know who they really are, and how they act under different sorts of circumstances, and how they act when they do not get their way. LOL. Take as much time as you need. The longer, the better. If she walks, let her walk. They usually want to push the timetable, and you have to be able to say no. From my many years of experience, with Thai women, and friends who have asked for advice, and whom I have witnessed, most relationships have a "witching hour". A time that they start demanding more. A house, a car, a condo, or something quite expensive. This is very common. If you are not going to build my family a house, at least give me some gold. Or this, or that. 2 years, or longer, is a fairly long amount of time, and usually sufficient to find out who she really is, what she is made of, what her parents and siblings are like, etc. If she starts pushing after just a few months, push back, and if she keeps on it, let her go! The real question is, do you have long term intentions with this woman? Do you see yourself living here with her into the future, and making a life with her? How well do you know her family? Do you like and trust them? If you answered yes to these questions, the first thing I would do, is look into her background, if she was a bar or massage gal. Trust your instincts. In terms of personal pride, self esteem and just paying tribute to your gender, you DO NOT want to be the next guy who got taken for a ride! Many gals have stories. We have all heard that story before. My family owns 25,000 rai of land. But, I need 20,000 a month to send to them, because all their wealth is tied up in their land, which they won't sell! Most have stories. Without the use of a good private detective (astonishing that more men do not use their services here), who can find out if she is online with profiles, dig up info about her past, etc. If you already harbor suspicions about her, they may be warranted. I would always question her claims of being hi-so (whatever that silly term means), or being a high earner. Can I see a pay stub? Always question the narrative! The vast majority of Thai people are way immature for their age. And many women and men are emotionally undeveloped, and really just 13 year olds, who look like adults. There is something about this society that does not allow most people to grow up with an understanding of themselves. I think face has something to do with it. The utter refusal to take responsibility for one's actions and the unwillingness to "own" a situation, and man up when you screw up. That and the inability to question people, and situations. And the subsequent lack of curiosity. It is all a perfect storm, when it comes to preventing alot of people from becoming well developed human beings, with communication skills, and the tools needed to conduct meaningful relationships, beyond the surface. Do you want to end up devoting yourself to someone like that?

It is hard to get insurance that covers very high property damage here. We specifically requested it, as I do not want to run into one of these bloated, severely over priced cars, and get stuck with a humongous bill to repair it. In the US, it is easy and inexpensive. I think my last policy there was $30 a year more to go from $60,000 to $2,000,000 in property damage. Anyone desperate and emotionally deficient enough to pay 30 million baht for a car here, and then drive it on the roads, with the number of inattentive, reckless, and poorly skilled drivers here, is not going to get much sympathy when the car gets damaged.

I do not like their pop songs. But, their ballads and other such songs as Pale Shelter, Broken, Elemental, Advice for the young at heart, Head over heels, I believe, Woman in chains, Mad world, and Sketches of pain are astonishing songs. Profoundly written and performed. Nearly timeless. In my opinion, they will be remembered and revered for decades to come.

Parliament could use some advice, as they are doing quite an impressive job of suppressing the will of the people. And if I were the teacher, I would encourage a discourse. And encourage both curiousity and creativity, rather than stifle the kids with oppression, and rote learning. This was not an attack. This was a question, this could have been a productive discussion, had the closed minded, highly conventional, very conservative, know nothing teacher not been so closed, so typical, so boring, so trite, so easily offended. In the West, kids are encouraged to ask questions. Here, they are taught to never, ever question the teacher, nor the narrative, regardless of the level of ignorance.

If it gets to the point where you realize your landlord is toxic and uncooperative, best thing to do is vacate and move on. If they refuse to refund your deposit, best thing to do is stay an extra month, without paying rent. Life is too short for bad landlords. Some have "poverty consciousness". It is a horrific condition whereby a person who has wealth, thinks they are poor and it pains them to spend any real money. There are millions that fit that bill. They are likely incurable, without 10,000 hours of therapy, which would never happen here, due to hubris and pride. I have been fortunate to find a great landlord. She is kind and respectful. She is responsive, she shares in the cost of improvements, or repairs or covers them herself. But, we take great care of the house, and have never been late with rent, which she has never raised. I would not have any tolerance for a bad landlord. Try to find one who DOES NOT live nearby.

Phase 2 of the 354.5km section from Nakhon Ratchasima to Nong Khai is still in draft. The stations will include Nakhon Ratchasima, Bua Yai, Ban Phai, Khon Kaen, Udon Thani, and Nong Khai. While it is a step in the right direction, this should have been started decades ago. https://futuresoutheastasia.com/bangkok-nong-khai-high-speed-railway/

There is some truth to that. Their shrimp and rice exports just don't mean that much. Also, if one takes into account the fact that their neighbors Cambodia, have been engaged in a authoritarian regime for decades now, disguised as a democracy with the support of the entire West, it tells you what you need to know about worldwide moral bankruptcy, the impotency of the UN, and alot more. So, the thugs and money mongering "so called elite", here in Thailand are free to do as they please, it would appear.

Students here are not only prohibited from questioning their teachers, they can't disagree with them either. How is a bright youth supposed to learn in such an oppressive environment, when curiosity is stomped right out of them? This attitude stems from fear. The teachers don't know enough to be questioned! Thailand severely lags behind it's neighbors when it comes to education. It has to be deliberate. There is no other reasonable answer.

Definitely the Cure. And Tears for Fears. Duran Duran, Pet Shop Boys, Joy Division, New Order, Bowie, Spandau Ballet, Depeche Mode. I could go on. I think it was a great decade for the UK.

What about the Thai railway? The clowns have been spending 70 years kicking the can down the road, when it comes to the movement of cargo. And now? The highways are utterly choked with trucks of every age, size and color. There are no alternatives, due to a stunning lack of creativity and leadership. A high speed railway is desperately needed here, for alternative transport and cargo.

That would be the worst possible outcome for the country, and would set Thailand back 20 years. Hey Prawit. What about your promise to fight corruption? I doubt if you remember back this far, but when you and Prayuth launched a coup, it was ostensibly to restore law and order, which you accomplished with draconian measures, and to get rid of the rot, and corruption in immigration, the police, customs, and the government, at the highest levels, which you never even made the slightest attempt to do. You substituted 10 foot alligators, with 14 foot crocodiles. And you have spent your entire time protecting the elite, those in office, the army, the police, those who are connected, and the super wealthy. For God's sake, you could not even bring the Dark Tao killer to justice, nor the Red Bull creep. Again, busy protecting the wealthy with all of your power. And now, you want to run the country? That is indeed a sad day for the nation. You don't deserve it, you haven't earned it. You are not worthy of it.

Weak, pathetic, cowardly, self entitled hooligans, who are accustomed to a perch atop the ivory tower, scared to death of being taken down a notch, and being asked to be accountable for their heinous and unforgivable actions. Of course they will resort to whatever dirty tactics they can. That is who and what they are. Filth. They are the deplorables. Go ahead and stick with regressive conservative policies, resist change and progress at all costs, and run your nation into the ground.

Most of the people I know who support him, seem to be in the latter camp. "It is not about the man, it is about the issues" kind of a thing. Which I sort of get. Only, he is not my sort of guy.

Any hard rock. Alot of country music. Anything by Justin Bieber, Cardi B, Kanye West, the Weekend, Sheeran, Limp Bizkit, Aaron Lewis, Jason Aldean, Dababy, Billy Ray Cyrus, Taylor Swift, Adele, Katy Perry, Tim McGraw, Ariana Grande, Post Malone, Britney Spears, Whitney Houston, Madonna, Drake, Billy Joel, etc. The bar for pop music is set very, very low right now. It is not a good time for music. Very few brilliant artists are emerging. Not exactly a golden age for music, and anyone who thinks differently, likely did not live through the mid 1960's to early 1970's (classic rock), the late 70's to late 80's (mostly British music, and old school hiphop), or the mid 90's to early 2000's (electronica).

The Bless Hotel on soi 33 is alot of hotel for the money. 5 minute walk to Phrom Pong BTS, Villa Market, Emporium, Em Quartier, etc. Very central. Spacious rooms, rooftop pool, and I enjoy being near Sukhumvit.

I sure hope so. One of the most pathetic aspects of this man's very deficient intellect, is that he cannot even improvise. He cannot even come up with the new name for what is happening to him, and continues to abuse the words witch hunt, over, and over again. He is so boring and he is so predictable. May I make some suggestions? 1. Law enforcement and the justice system appear so finally be catching up with him. So, how about comeuppance, instead of the very tired witch hunt. 2. How about cornered? Or caught out? Or busted? How about finished?

No, no, no, no. All they have to do is actually patrol the highways, instead of manning those ridiculous, traffic clogging checkpoints. Basic highway patrol 101.

One can only hope. It is well know he stiffed thousands of small contractors. Some of them lost their homes, some of their businesses folded, as they were very dependent on the funds, and did not seem to realize they were working for a 14 foot crocodile. It is a large part of the Trump saga and it is likely most of his fortune was stolen and amassed from the hardship of others. It is alot easier to become rich if you have no morals and are willing to do absolutely anything in the pursuit of wealth.

Who are these toxic activists, and do they have a real life? Or are they simply tools for the army? This clown should be ashamed of himself. I guess that would only happen if he had any pride, to begin with.

Some of us prefer younger women. It is a form of insanity, or delusion, for a man 15-30 years older than the gal, to believe that money is not an integral component of whatever kind of relationship, or arrangement they have. That is true here, and it is 10x truer in the West. The big difference between here and there, is a guy with a reasonable pension, income or savings, can afford to get a younger gal here, and back there to get a pretty, young gal, 30 years younger, you need to be worth $50,000,000 or more. In my opinion money (financial security) is part of the equation at least 80% of the time, anywhere you go. A civilian needs money, and so does an ex bar girl. What is the real difference between a monthly allowance, and giving the wife full access to the bank accounts and assets? I prefer the former. By a longshot.

Totally agree. In the West you pay for what you get too. But, it is less honest, and going into it, you have no idea what the amounts are, what her expectations are, and where you will finish, in the end. Taken for a ride? Gave her half of your assets? On the hook for huge amounts of alimony or child support? Lost homes? I get a real kick out of the highly judgmental Western men who have an issue with giving a Thai woman an allowance here. As if the women back home do not have access to funds? I know guys back home who never even see their earnings, and have to ask their wives for money. Here, you can maintain total control of the finances, while giving a good, dedicated, kind, good looking, sexy, funny, and warmhearted woman (if you are very fortunate) some money for her shopping, eating out with friends, buying some clothes, etc. I call that the ability to maintain one's manhood, and control over their destiny in life.

On a certain level I do agree with your sentiment. Most Thais seem to be incredibly resilient. A very admirable quality. Few seem stuck in the past or obsessed with the future.

And just yesterday there were two seperate posts about disappointing numbers with regard to arrivals, and it stated a few valid reasons for that. We have a little over 4 months of low season left, economic duldrums, post covid catch up, high debt, poor press, dramatically lower numbers of Chinese travelers, major issues with the Chinese economy, less flights, more expensive flights, and they expect to double the current arrivals they claim they have had so far this year? We all know that 15 million number is fake anyway. So, what gives? Will they say anything to avoid losing face? Are they of the "truth is not truth" camp? Does the TAT have any remaining credibility? Does anyone buy these numbers?

What is the difference between a grifter, and a criminal? He has conducted a lifetime of crime, fraud, tax evasion, and other unlawful acts. Was it as "organized" as the mafia? Likely not. Is that an issue? The way I look at it, is whatever method they can find to imprison this career criminal, is fair game. Billions have been stolen from small contractors. And now he uses his political supporters to maintain his lifestyle. Is that not a crime too? Where does it end? Is there a limit?