spidermike007

Ukrainian, Andorran, Fujian, Kazakh, Papuan and Saudi. Who made up this list? US, and all the rest of Europe is not on the list. Just another step in the continued deterioration of the tourist market here. My heart goes out to the Thai people. The burden this administration is imposing on these people is a horrible thing to witness. 

On 5/22/2014 at 6:13 PM, Old Stud said:

Girls talk. One gal flashes her prizes and her girlfriends ask, how you get that? Easy, farang like sex. Mai mii bpan haa! He Buy me many things.

My doctors assistant was a cute 25 yo - didn't speak much English - I thought totally shy and innocent. Her story was her parents were dead, so no family. I never considered normal office/clerk/sales girls in the same category as bar girls. In my mind the bar girl world is a totally separate one.

I first noticed her braces, and then the gold necklace and the nice watch, new scooter. My comment, "You must pay her well for her to afford all those things." Well, the innocent girl wasn't kidding when she asked me to take her to Koh Samui on my vacation. She was working several of the male patients, before she ran off with a rich Danish guy. A second assistant quit at the same time. Thai female doctor was shocked when she found out her gals were sleeping with her patients - for jewelry, scooters and things.

No big surprise here. But, does that make her a bad girl? Maybe not as innocent as she looks. So what? Innocence is way over rated. Women use what they have. Same exact thing in the West. There is little difference. Most women want financial security in a relationship. Good on them. I would too, if I were in their position. Gifts and prizes? Been the way of the world since the hunter gatherers, first started forming villages, about 15,000 years ago. No surprises here. And no guilt either. We all do what we need to do, to service and prosper. Nothing wrong with a woman using her femininity for that purpose. Sure, if it is done with honesty and integrity, it is better. But, people do what they do. 

It is true about girls talking. They love to share their stories. So and so gave me this. How much? Wow. Of course that may encourage other to try the same. So what?

4 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Firstly the person doing the ‘hounding’ right now it is Trey Gowdy (Republican- SC) head of the House Oversight Committee, Gowdy is demanding details of Ivanka’s use of her private email for government business be released to his committee and the House.

 

Clinton’s use of her private email for government business was investigated (by Gowdy’s committee), nobody has produced any evidence of deaths arising from her use of her private email. Your claim deaths occurred is void of any evidence or facts to back it up.

A member of the GOP with some integrity? Sounds like such a refreshing concept. It does seem like some of the republicans have been emboldened by the sweeping takeover of the house by the democrats. Perhaps they will not feel the need to be in such lock step with their master?

6 hours ago, quandow said:

I'm currently in the states, helping a dying relative pass over to the other side. Because of this new round of clueless, hapless administration decisions, I'm returning to Thailand in January, closing out the apartment I still have, and will start looking to relocate elsewhere once this caregiving bout is over. There is a radical change permeating throughout LOS. It's been a slow creep coming in, but it feels like a tsunami is about to break. It's just not fun any more!

Well, I have to agree with you about the changes. This administration started with such a searing, blind nationalist bent. After awhile, I assume some people far more powerful than Prayuth pulled him aside, and lectured him about the destruction he was wreaking on his nation, his tiny mindedness, his total lack of vision, and his incredibly ignorant rhetoric. He did seem to calm down after that. But, the immigration policies, constant police crackdowns targeting foreigners, alot of inflation, banking challenges, lack of public and traffic safety, the continuing power of the Thai baht, and other such nonsense, has made it a bit daunting.

As far as I am concerned, every ex-pat in Thailand should be given awards, for being who we are. And treated with far more respect by the authorities, and this most hapless of administration. But, that would require some wisdom and vision. A bit too much to ask from the current leadership. Most of us are very honest, law abiding, legal immigrants, who bring alot to the table, spend alot of money here, treat the local people with a great deal of respect, are some of the best drivers on the road, and contribute to the nation, in many ways culturally. I did say most! 

However, I tend to disagree with you about your overall assessment. I still find Thailand to be a wonderful place to live. I enjoy every day here. Have some great friends here, have a wonderful relationship with an amazing Thai woman, and I adore her family, who are really good, hard working, honest, kindhearted, fun loving, generous souls. I also like most Thai people I encounter. Of course, I do have the good fortune of not having to live on Samui (was there for many years, when it was a far better version of itself, than it is today) Phuket, or Pattaya, where the local people tend to not be as much fun to be around, as they are jaded, and have to put up with alot of fools (probably the small minority of the local ex-pats, who make it harder for all of us), and live in an area where people are delightful. 

I would encourage you to share your alternative choices. It is a topic that is on many minds these days, and one I have given some thought to. Other than Spain, part time, I have not come up with any viable alternatives. I would not move back to the US for anything less than a million dollars a year. Life back there feels quite forlorn to be these days. I do not like most Vietnamese people, do not find the Malaysian people to be fun loving enough, nor as light hearted as the Thais, though it is a great country, have no interest in Cambodia (been there many times, and do not like the current Chinese takeover of the nation), Burma has always been out of the question, lived in India before, and have no desire to repeat that, though I love the people. Bali used to be amazing, but has turned into an overcrowded cesspool, unless you are somehow able to avoid the southern third of the island. So, where does that leave a guy who does not have an unlimited budget? As a caveat, I would only consider living in a society that does not practice mandatory emasculation of it's men. 

No Prawit. YOU are doing a tremendous disservice to your nation by remaining in office. YOU are destroying your country. YOU are not liked, not wanted, not popular and not effective. You need to leave. Get out now. 

This general you are complaining about is a true patriot. Not YOU! Not one iota. 

The Thai culture seems very comfortable with the concept of a monopoly. King Power, True Visions, Thai Airways, the govt. tobacco monopoly, etc. Gross derilection of duty. An enormous disservice to the people. 

7 hours ago, bristolboy said:

Democrats now have gained 38 seats in the House. Almost certainly that will go to 39. And there is a race in California that was originally called for the Republican but is now looking somewhat shaky. So the Democrats might make it to 40. That's quite a trickle.

That is a severe repudiation of Trump and his policies. He was utterly humiliated and his unraveling this past week or so demonstrates his lack of strength, ability to cope with setbacks, and fortitude. The man is weak. 

2 hours ago, sydneyjed said:

And traditionally wasn't November also the month when the new annual Police Commissions come into effect?Maybe it is just the new Thonglor Commander flexing his muscles at the start of his year!

Do not think so. It was a public humiliation, and the simple reaction to that. They were outed publicly, for the things they do every day of the year, with impunity, and with permission from their superiors. It is that simple. They are not law enforcement. They are franchisees. There is no fight against corruption being waged. That is for public consumption. They could care less. It is condoned at the highest levels.

41 minutes ago, Bob12345 said:

And still nobody forces you to go there, or do they?

 

I cant pay for a Bentley, so i dont buy one instead of complaining they are too expensive.

As far as I know, nobody forces me to use a specific provider. Since when is it a crime to state facts? 

13 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Why don't you tell us how you really think about Trump? 

He's not going anywhere, and if the economy keeps going gangbusters he's a shoo in at the election.

BTW, if he had gone to the ceremony, the protestors would have ruined it. He may have wished to avoid that. In their hatred of Trump, they have no respect for any occasion.

As for the OP, I hope the investigation is curtailed. It hasn't found any evidence so far, and it's had more than enough time to do so. Now it's just wasting money.

Oh, just wait. Mueller is putting together charges, and Trump is going to fall from "grace", in a very hard fashion. Just wait. Trump has more skeletons in his closet that a Papuan Highlander cannibal. His entire fortune was gained primarily by theft from small contractors. His name is mud. Units in his buildings cannot be sold or rented. 17 out of 19 of his merchandising deals have gone belly up. Ivanka lost her company. No more management deals overseas, as his name is so toxic. 

The macro economy is doing well. But 95% of Americans are struggling. Please explain that one to us. Corporate profits are way up, and benefits are down. That is driving the stock market. Few of those benefits are filtering down to the average person. Inflation is rampant. Despite what we are being told. 

7 minutes ago, Just1Voice said:

Have you considered professional help for your delusional bouts?  The NRA is one of the STRONGEST proponents for THROUGH background checks on people who wish to buy a gun.  That's #1.  As for #2, this happened in CHICAGO, which is a "gun free zone" city, but still has one of the highest rates of gun related crimes in the country.   

Far from strengthening the background check system, the Trump administration has taken several actions that could be described as weakening it.

Trump’s proposed budget for fiscal 2019 would cut $12 million for a program that awards grants to states to improve their NICS reporting, a reduction from $73 million to $61 million.

In LaPierre’s case, the statistics are outdated and portray the NICS database as spottier than it really is. LaPierre also claims the NRA helped institute the NICS, even though the gun group initially opposed the Brady Act, agreed to the NICS provision as a compromise and then tried to strike down the entire law in the courts.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.washingtonpost.com/amphtml/news/fact-checker/wp/2018/02/23/fact-checking-trump-nra-claims-on-gun-background-checks/

More absolute nonsense. There are a dozen factors limiting economic growth at the moment. Tourism is way down. Even Chinese tourism. Western tourism has fallen off the rails. The Thai army is disliked and disrespected by planet earth. They have over extended their welcome by years. Time to go. You are bringing down the nation. Get out now.  

Whatevet it takes to beat this thoroughly rigged system is a good thing. Beat the corrupt army at their own game. And beat them in the elections. Time for those guys to go. Nobody likes them. Get out now!

43 minutes ago, bristolgeoff said:

i have being to thailand lots of time  never heard of anything like tea money to police or anything else.but i did once pay police for not wearing a helmet instead of a ticket.surely thailand and the police are honest i,am shocked

You must be living in a parallel universe. The cops are not law enforcement. They are franchisees here. 

4 hours ago, animalmagic said:

If, as he claims, the evidence on the tape has such momentous import that would influence the steps he must take with a major ally, to the extent of being damaging to the US economy and jobs, then he is duty bound to listen to the tape.  

Eisenhower recognised his duty before he became president and saw first hand the horrors of the Nazi concentration camps.

Duty bound. A fascinating concept. But I do not believe it is relevant with Trump. I do not beleive he considers his duties when making a decision or an inane statement. 

No reason for concern. He got elected by ignorant shock comments and insults. That has worn off. No policy, smarts, negotiating ability, political IQ, dignity, grace, or relationship to truth or even God. He is on his way out. Few will miss this ignoramus. And his empire crumbles.

1 hour ago, OneMoreFarang said:

For once I agree with Trump. I am pretty sure listening to that tape will bring nightmares to most normal people.

Why would anybody do something to have nightmares?

I once downloaded the video from one of those decapitations. I put the volume to zero and looked at it in a stamp-sized window - for a few seconds. And then I decided I really don't have to do this. I think that was a good decision.

 

I generally agree with you about not wanting to watch nightmarish stuff. But, as far as I know, presidents are supposed to be held to a different standard than the rest of us. And most like to stay informed, so they can make intelligent decisions, that can benefit their nations. That applies to the reasonable and intelligent ones, who make sound decisions that are not guided by emotions, paper thin skin, low self esteem masked by much bragacchio, and a perception of minor personal slights. 

Of course, there are some exceptions to that rule. And some are more compromised than others.