spidermike007

10 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

They are probably considering India too but not as much fun as Thailand

India would be considered a hardship post, for most foreigners required to live there. Therefore, it would require significant hardship increases in salary for all foreigners working there. That would have to be a factor. Also, the cost of living is not cheap, unless you are eating on the street, which I do not advise. Real estate is extremely expensive. I lived and worked there for one and a half years, many years ago, and my work required me to travel. I took 46 trips in a 55 week period, including 10 trips to Bombay (Mumbai) and I love that city. It is truly the NYC of India. I really got the see the country. I was also there several times previously, and a few times since. India is a remarkable nation, I love most of it's people, and the culture and history are incredible. But, it is a tough place to live. And a tough place to travel. Not at all like Thailand. My guess is that the infrastructure is not as good as Thailand, and at the time I worked there, the government requirements were punishing, immigration was difficult to work with, and it was a very challenging place to do business. I am sure alot of that has improved, as it has been over 20 years since I worked there. 

15 minutes ago, Canuck1966 said:

 

When the cops get the call through about a crime from the station, do they get advised about any priors ? 

 

I doubt it. It is just an unidentified guy in a store. So, you have a good point. No way to know if they had already run a check on him, by the time he was in handcuffs. I sort of doubt it, and even if they had, that sort of violence is never justified, after a man is subdued, in cuffs and on the ground. By the look on officer Derek Chauvin's face, he was doing this for sport. He was extremely cavalier, despite the fact that he was being filmed, and rather than his fellow officers doing what they should have done, which was to kick his puny butt, and knock him to the ground, they all stood around and more or less egged him on. A rather disgusting display of white police privilege and he needs to be punished harshly. I sure hope the authorities have the good judgment to charge him with murder, and the vast majority of us want to see this creep cop spend his remaining years behind bars. He snuffed out a life. And it was totally unnecessary. A toxic mass of a policeman. I have run into many like him, but fortunately I am white, so I did not incur their wrath. I would not want to be a man of color in America.

And it turns out the officer was a major trouble maker, and should have been fired a long time ago. He was a menace to society, patrolling the streets, apparently looking to make trouble.

The Minneapolis police officer seen kneeling on the neck of an unarmed black man heard saying "I can't breathe" multiple times before he died was a 19-year department veteran who was the subject of at least a dozen police conduct complaints that resulted in no disciplinary action and one that led to a "letter of reprimand." The officer, who was praised for valor during his career, also once fired his weapon during an encounter with a suspect, records show.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/minneapolis-police-officer-center-george-floyd-s-death-had-history-n1215691 

9 minutes ago, Canuck1966 said:

The worst part is that he knew he was being filmed and still thought his actions were appropriate. 

Nobody is a threat once they have been cuffed and tbf he complied all the way 

Spoke with manners to the police and still got that treatment

That cop never let him get a breath, the piece of shìt

As you say the other 3 cops did nothing so they are complicit too.

Throw the key away for all four, not sure they will last long in prison anyway!

They would make alot of goods friends in prison. I hear the average prison population really like racist cops who kill men of color. What can one even say? I have cops in my family. My brother in law, who is a really good guy, is a bit of a racist. Not super hostile, but you can tell it is there. He is retired CHP. His father is retired CHP also, and is a major racist. Also appears to be a decent guy, as long as you are white. We have talked a bit about the police violence, and he tells me how dangerous the job is. I get that. It is dangerous. But, there is nothing dangerous about having a man on the ground, with handcuffs on.

Perpetrating violence on him at that point only makes you a massively cowardly, half man. 

16 hours ago, billd766 said:

However Thaksin's try for an amnesty was debated in parliament and kicked out.

 

The junta didn't bother with any debate, they just gave themselves total immunity for ALL acts past, present and future.

 

And you complain about Thaksin and praise the junta government.

 

They stole the whole country, treasury and all.

They are a large boil on the face of the nation. What will it take to get rid of this pestilence?

He was being arrested on suspicion of using a counterfeit $20 bill to pay for some stuff. The grocer could have been racist, he may have been tripping, or he may have just made a mistake. And even if it was counterfeit, that is not evidence that Floyd knew that. Regardless, once a subject is subdued, on the ground, in handcuffs, and without a weapon, you put him in the patrol car, and bring him in. What this pig cop did was beyond the pale. I truly hope he is tried for murder and convicted, and that the three other cops with him are tried for accessory to murder. They could have and should have stopped him.

I am from the US, have traveled all over the US, and I can tell you firsthand how racist many law enforcement departments are. As a white man, I am virtually invisible to the police, as long as I toe the line. However, I have been hanging out with black or hispanic friends, and I see how they are targeted repeatedly, by the police. It is beyond obnoxious. I still find the LAPD to be very, very nasty men and women, and by contrast, I have always gotten along with the NYPD. But, there are some very rotten apples among them all. The police departments in the US are becoming increasingly militarized, and it is nothing more than an excuse, when a cop says he thinks he was threatened. There are many ways to take a man down, without using lethal force, unless he is armed and dangerous. This unrest is justified, from my point of view. People are really angry at the cops, and most people hate the cops, for very good reason. 

I do not trust the US government one iota. They have been engaged in industrial spying for decades. Now, they get way behind the curve with regard to the development of 5G and all of a sudden we have a demon in the form of the company on the leading edge. Again, a fake narrative from a justice department that cannot be trusted on any level. Would sure be great if Canada stood up to them. 
 

Not saying the Chinese dictatorship is clean in all this. But, trust the Americans? What have they done to earn our trust lately?

Nearly the entire nation has sold out to the Chinese. PP is barely recognizable anymore. Hun Sen could not resist the additional billions in personal fortune. He sold out his people to Pol Pot. Then he has been selling out during his entire reign of thievery and serial killing. Now he does it once again. As always, the people factor last. 

I think they are wide open. A friend of mine on Samui recently traveled there, and had no issues. Inter provincial travel appears to have loosened up alot. However, here is his post from yesterday. Does not sound like a pleasant place to visit, at the moment. I was thinking of taking a drive down in a week or two, but does not sound like much fun.

Ran into Daw at post office today. (motorcycle rental lady) Found out some stuff... She's building a small smoothie shop outside a 7/11. Couple pieces of plywood, a sign, she pays 5000 bht to owner per month. She said many thai owners of business on Samui aren't coming back until foreigners come back to Samui. She said only 3 countries in future, China, S. Korea, and Russia. And a few northern Europeans. But not enough foreigners to open now and looks like islands businesses, a high % needs a full house of busy customers. Earliest she heard, December/ January, if co19 stays low in all countries. Word is from Govt., do not count on regular tourists in full, plan to work elsewhere, stay where u are, no guarantees for customers.

Daws cycle shop sits open, (she has about 20 bikes for rent, zero rented as of now) as her son now sits in office playing on phone all day, no customers at all. I drove around Samui today, saw 12 Koreans walking through Hinta Hinyai area, and out again. Place is all delapadated, from non maintenance. Busted up, broken down look, until a new owner comes back and renovates a spot for his business. A few restaurants open, no activity, no customers. Almost like a hurricane passed here last month, and a very few people are wandering around curious to look at what's left. I think unlike mainland, where tourism is minor. In Samui the heart of energy was torn apart, being tourism is everything. Definitely locals only here to support the few stores of food, the basics. Still a bit busy on traffic, but like a dead low season with no energy in town. Any action right now seems to be on Tinder. 

Honestly, someone stole my SUV, on many occasions, and drove it way too fast! Stealing my SUV was bad enough, but then they drove over 150kph. That is alot of wear and tear on my vehicle! Not right! I do not like this at all. 

I am not responsible. As a matter of fact, I have never been responsible for anything wrong, I have ever done. Just ask my mom and dad. They will tell  you what a good boy I am! 

Most functional governments need an opposition to serve as a watchdog. Though the army hates it, they serve a useful function, and it is a sheer pleasure to watch them call out an army who feels they are above the laws of the land. Go Sompong go! You are doing the people of the nation a great service, each and every time you call out Prayuth. If anything, he needs far more opposition. Eventually he and his hapless army will fall. It cannot happen too soon. 

5 hours ago, unamazedloso said:

So? Boring bike, boring washed up actor. Fleas a dam good bassist but dont car much for the blue cold <deleted>ty lepars.. Slow news day...

There is absolutely nothing washed up about Brad Pitt. Nor is he boring, either in real life, in interviews, or in his films. He is self deprecating, does not appear to take himself too seriously, and has a great sense of humor. Many who work with him talk about how delightful he is to work with. He is coming off an oscar for his great supporting role in "Once upon a time in Hollywood", his star is as hot as ever, and he commands $20 million per film, plus points. If that is washed up, I will take it. Your lack of objectivity, and bias against successful movie stars is blinding you from seeing reality, for what it is.

In addition he is a very talented actor, with alot of range. Plus he has a net worth of well in excess of $300,000,000. Personally, I really enjoy his work. From Fury, to Inglorious Basterds, to Legends of the Fall, Kalifornia, Babel, Ocean's 13 and 11, Benjamin Button, Snatch, Fight club, A River runs through it, Seven, Fight club, The Big Short, Twelve Monkeys and Moneyball, he has an incredible body of work, and deserves all the fame and accolades he gets, despite your claims, otherwise.