spidermike007

Any alternative to the ridiculously slippery, and shiny tile found in most homes here is a great thing, and a very smart idea. Defy group think. Do what others don't do. Let us demonstrate conscious thought in our lives!

Well, happiness is a difficult thing to define. Is this something she has devoted serious thought to? Has she spent real time there? My wife is no house maid. She is an amazing woman. Smart, talented and ambitious. But, if she decided she wanted to live in the US, that would be a real issue between us. I have no desire to live back there. None. I visit often. Last month I attended the Paris Opera Ballet at the Hollywood Bowl, as well as a New Orleans blues and jazz concert there too. Love some of the culture to be had back there, but it would not be enough to want to live there. Fortunately, she has been back there several times, and we travel together once a year to the US, and neither of us has one iota of interest in living there. We love our lives here. For those of us living on a limited income, the life here is infinitely better. On so many levels.

True. The entire NW is dark, dank and rainy. I once spent 6 weeks in Vancouver. From August 15th to about October 1st. The first two weeks were glorious, and after about Sept. 2nd, it rained or we had cool weather and it was cloudy for 30 days! No thanks. Felt like a mushroom. I think perhaps you have not been to North Hollywood for some time. Yes, there is a local Thai population there. I travel to LA a few times a year. The entire region has become a real wasteland. Going downhill at an alarming pace, with rising crime, combined with ridiculous inflation, it is stunningly expensive, for what you get. The same could be said about all of California. Not the state I remember from days gone by. Not all areas look like this, but these two images are from recent trips to LA, that I took of downtown LA.

There are some aspects of tradition that are meaningful and beneficial to society, and some that cause harm, and prevent forward progress. Ritualistic aspects of tradition are not particularly useful, and lead to superstition, and can lead to great harm, and ruined lives. Other tradition are simply an excuse for bad behavior. I am not a big fan of tradition, in general. Some are ok. Many others are not. In Kenya, for example, the customary laws of some ethnic communities discriminate against women when it comes to property ownership and inheritance. As one woman told us, “They talk about African traditions, but there is no tradition you can speak of—just double standards.” Similarly, several former British colonies, including Nigeria and Malaysia, use moral terms such as “gross indecency” and “carnal knowledge against the order of nature” in rejecting homosexuality, citing so-called traditional values embodied in laws that in fact only date to the relatively recent, and otherwise derided, colonial era. In Uganda, Malaysia, Moldova, and Jamaica, where the state rejects LGBT rights, claims that homosexuality is simply “not in our culture” are ubiquitous. https://www.hrw.org/news/2013/01/11/trouble-tradition Child marriage is an issue that is pervasive still across many countries due to economic, social and cultural norms. The reasons behind these marriages are varied, often parents arrange the marriage unbeknownst to the child and many are arranged for economic purposes as it can mean one less person to feed. Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is a practice most often carried out by traditional circumcisers, who often play central roles in communities. It is a violation of the human rights of girls and women, and reflects deep-rooted gender inequality and female discrimination. https://coraminternational.org/themes/harmful-traditional-practices/ These harmful traditional practices include female genital mutilation (FGM); forced feeding of women; early marriage; the various taboos or practices which prevent women from controlling their own fertility; nutritional taboos and traditional birth practices; son preference and its implications for the status of the girl child; female infanticide; early pregnancy; and dowry price. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5c7d541e40f0b603d7852921/PB_What_is_the_harm_S02_18Dec17.pdf I take the following quotation of Mahatma Gandhi as my guiding light in this matter: “It is good to swim in the waters of tradition but to sink in them is suicide.” https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/traditions-are-not-bad-but-they-need-to-evolve-constantly/articleshow/56838173.cms?from=mdr

That could be the case, and we all know how much power China wields. And they do not exactly wield it with grace. However, cowardice is cowardice, no matter the reason. When the Burmese army says they are uninterested in politics, that is total BS. They are power hungry thugs. Utter despots. The billionaire generals are thieves, robbing the people of their gems, their timber, their minerals and selling heroin for the sake of amassing wealth. And supported by extremist Buddhist monks against the minorities. Broken men. With their recent overthrow, they have self revoked the right to consume oxygen. May the Burmese (I refuse to use the term Myanmar, as it is a nod to the power structure there) youth eventually prevail! May the dinosaurs be pushed out. They are a terrorist army. And with total support from morally bankrupt Beijing. Xi is a power hungry, tone deaf despot. Accustomed to manipulating news at will, China’s bosses pretend this crisis isn’t happening, that awful crimes are not occurring daily. They seem not to realise that in the world beyond their censors, there is an ever diminishing chance of permanently hiding or denying such atrocities, wherever they occur.

Let them sue. I would continue the campaign, and use their frivolous lawsuits as additional fodder. Never fear laws written by and for cowards. We must stand up for what we know is right. Cowering out of fear of oppressive laws, is not acceptable.

If the current administration had any sense of morality, and justice (which they obviously do not) they would have welcomed her with open arms. But, they seem to be afraid of Burma for some reason, and do not want to take any chance of offending them. Standing up to highly corrupt, serial killing billionaire generals is the right thing to do. Such cowardice. Such moral bankruptcy, coming from the Thai army. No surprise there. These decisions are made by generals. That says it all. She is absolutely lovely. Someone should come to her rescue! And why on earth would Interpol issue a red notice for the critic of a foul, murderous, and despicable government. That does not sound right.

"I can't stand it any more," she told the media. So I decided to smash it up so that the company will really know how I feel. It was a new car but it has meant nothing but repairs. I will let them repair it then I'm going to sell it and get what I can for it. Then I'm going to buy a new one". Such a sensible act. Such common sense and reason, and such a clear head. Huh? I can think of a dozen ways of approaching this problem. I have absolutely zero fear of defamation. One has to fight for what is right, and those laws were written by easily bought and paid for men, by people with tiny hearts, great fear, and tremendous cowardice. I know I could have gotten satisfaction from the company, if it required going right up to the top executives of the company, with my pleas, and if that did not work, threats of major online campaigns. I have done it before. It works, in this day and age.

An ambulance going through a red light has a responsibility to slow down, and look before proceeding. This is the most basic of traffic rules. No matter how much of an emergency it is, there is no excuse for creating a second emergency. This is manslaughter, on the part of the driver of the ambulance. In addition to fleeing from the scene of a crime, though no such law seems to exist here, as part of the ongoing cultural war against taking responsibility for one's actions. Many of us drive with great caution here. The roads are a huge hazard. Barely a day goes by, that I do not see someone making a move that defies logic and reason, on the roads. The only way to survive here on the road, is to be patient, have eyes in the back of your head, drive with caution, and always, and I mean always watch out of the other guy. Chances are, he does not have much driving skill, nor patience, nor reason, nor common sense. You cannot be too careful on the road here. Especially considering that the toy police offer no traffic safety, prevention, enforcement of the law, or concern toward the prosecution of very reckless drivers. Those of us with driving skill, and a strong desire for not only survival, but the avoidance of terrible injury, are constantly scanning the road, in front of us, beside us, and behind us. If I am driving at a good speed, I do tend to take my foot off the gas, when going through a green light. But, it is impossible to slow down at every green light, especially with heavy traffic behind you. Having said that, there are an exceptionally high number of reckless fools on these roads, and being very, very careful is the only way to preserve our lives, and those of our families, and friends, who may be driving with us, and depending on us.

No reasonable explanation for the decree at this point other than "we are desperate for power". Scrap it. And let the people speak and express their extreme disappointment with the dinosaur goons and the direction the nation is going.

Was recently in Bangkok and visited Nana Plaza as well as Soi Cowboy and some other nightlife spots. They feel as if they are just hanging on for dear life. Barely any crowds, many spots closed, and not much business. It would appear the official sabotage of the economy and the nightlife is going to be felt for years to come.

Where is a Lee Harvey Oswald when you really need him? Few would miss Putin.

I seriously doubt there would be much support for the Ukraine "special operation" without Putin or the Kremlin. Be gone with them all.

I got Covid. It was no big deal, at all. Sick for two days with low energy, like a flu. Then two days of a stuffy nose and cough, like a cold. Then it was gone. I guess if you are healthy, no big deal. If you are obese, have a disease or are old and weak, it can be more serious.

A good question. Perhaps a high level covert operation. Would not be easy, but it would be very worthwhile. Certainly not by using a nuke.

Maybe sometimes lines need to be crossed? With a nuclear threat, it appears the madman may be violating some etiquette too.

That would be a reasonable and scientific solution. Maybe a bit too sophisticated for the investigators? Either that or the trucking company asked the police very convincingly not to review the footage.

Good job. Now, they just have to find the other billions of baht. It is likely a police chief here makes hundreds of millions a year, since the entire thing is a pyramid scheme. And does anyone think Big Joke or the current chief are not taking in hundreds of millions? How about the so called leaders?

I am no economist, but I do not think currency manipulation is the same thing as the Feds raising rates. Entirely different fundamentals at play.

Target the Kremlin while it is in full session, with Putin in attendance. Wipe out the entire support base for this insane war, in one fell swoop. This could be accomplished at any time. Now or later. Clean up the place.

Anyone else would have been immediately arrested, and locked up. So, what gives? Special treatment for one of their own? Does the law not apply to officers? This man needs to be arrested, tried, convicted and imprisoned for the rest of his life. And his family should be forced to sell their home, and his condos and villas, to pay reparations.

There is no question that King Vlad is insane. And he needs to be eliminated at any cost. He represents a clear and present danger to the world.

This kind of ignoramus demand is made, when a nation reaches for the bottom of the barrel, for leadership. Not sure they could have found anyone less qualified. Interest rates are only a part of the formula. And what a small minded man like this will never admit, is that he presided over policies that caused much economic devastation, hardship and loss. Nobody is more toxic to the nation, at this time. And we thought Prayuth was a poor leader.

Super hi tech. Better have a tire shop nearby!

Alternate slogans. Be nice. Do not mow down your countrymen. Just because you are behind the wheel, it does not mean you have to become a maniac. Taking a life is never a good thing. Don't maim. Look while you drive. Be nice to pedestrians. They could be your kids.