spidermike007

More absolutely inane policy, from this fabulously incompetent administration. They continue to sabotage the economy. They cannot get out of their own way. They shoot themselves, and the honest, hard working, common Thai people in the foot daily. 

He gave an example of one of the rules that requires every accommodation business to have at least 15% green space, but as small business operators in a dense town, there is hardly any space left, with many guest houses using town houses that have almost no green space whatsoever. For those with space, budget and difficulties authorising their ‘green space’ can hamper their efforts.

How on earth can some of these urban spots have the garden areas they are requiring? And why is this requirement not being imposed on the cities of this nation? Bangkok, Hua Hin, Pattaya, Korat, Udon Thani, Chaiyaphum, and Chiang Mai have some of the lowest ratios of parkland and public space, per capita, in the world. As usual, the common man and woman is getting picked on. Way to go Little P. Keep it up. Continue to sabotage your economy. Continue to lower the quality of life for your people. Continue to protect the elite, the super wealthy and those that are connected. 

The goons in charge are focusing their efforts in all the wrong areas. They are trying to make Thailand a Quaker State. A land of purity. Total BS. Nonsense. Misplaced priorities, and wasted efforts. They should be focusing their efforts on traffic and public safety, easing import tariffs, making visa policy simpler, and more friendly, boosting Western tourism, real crackdowns on slavery, and illegal fishing instead of nonsensical hyperbole, cleaning up the water, the air, the rivers, and the beaches, and other things that actually improve lives.

I have some advice for you. Get out. Get out now. You are not wanted. You are not popular. You are beyond incompetent. You have no idea what you are doing. You have put together an administration so lacking in talent, it boggles the mind. Leave. Pack your bags. You are not needed anymore. 

Little P. Not making Thailand great again. And moving the nation backwards at an astonishing and alarming pace.  

On 6/7/2018 at 3:37 PM, Cadbury said:

The question is, are these Food and Drug registration numbers genuine? If they are genuine have they been issued correctly or purchased from the Department under the counter as many things are in the Thai civil service. Like organic food certification.

No different to those chemical companies which produce poisonous herbicides and pesticides. They are allowed to have doctors provide testimonials and promos of their products. But I supposed that's because they are wealthy and "well connected".

Even in the US, an FDA approval can be purchased for $2 million. Just a series of tests, and the approval process. There are thousands of products in the US that are toxic, dangerous, and unhealthy to eat, or to use. Just because they have passed the tests of a highly compromised agency, does not mean much. Perhaps even more so here. To go after the celebrities who promoted the products seems ludicrous.

Why not go after the officers or owners of the companies? Oh, perhaps they are too wealthy, too connected, or too influential? Above the law, one might say. Any and all laws. 

One thing I have learned from being around a number of wealthy friends, is that money DOES NOT make you happy. Sure, it allows you alot more ability to address your issues, problems, and challenges. And it does provide a certain degree of freedom and mobility. For some that I know, it has created a whole different set of challenges, as they worry about preserving their wealth. But the big issue for many is that after spending a lifetime trying to achieve the success that is finally achieved, they realize they are still not happy. What happened? I assumed that once I had my fortune I would be happy. Not necessarily so. So, for some, becoming famous, wealthy, recognized for their achievements, etc., can be quite a letdown. Unless they have the depth to understand that money and success is just one little aspect of life, and it is not the be all and end all. Some just do not get that. Spade's personal net worth was in excess of $150,000,000. And her business was worth over $2 billion. Did that make her happy? Obviously not. One can argue that she had a medical condition, clinical depression, etc. But all of that is just a diagnosis, not the reality. 

35 minutes ago, Odysseus123 said:

Spidermike.

 

It may come as a complete surprise to you to know that Canada was War Plan enemy number one until discreetly removed from the list in 1940.

 

American Generals were contemplating the extensive use of poison gas.

 

Later on the usage of atomic weapons on (primarily Asians) was seen as a much more profitable activity.

 

That failed too after the French informed them in 1954 that it was their own troops under the bomb at Dien Bien Phu.

 

Those saucy American generals eh?

 

..chuckle..

 

 

No. It does not surprise me at all. The defense industry, the Pentagon, and American foreign policy has been quite suspect, and guilty of countless transgressions for more decades than I can count. Some may argue that the last "righteous" war the US was engaged in, was WWII. Korea? Vietnam? Panama? Grenada? Iraq? Afghanistan? Libya? Egypt? Algeria? If not direct involvement, then certainly funding, influence, and support of the opposition parties. Alot of pretty bizarre ideas and motives. Alot of hubris. A staggering degree of ignorance of world history, and the unwillingness to study such, and learn from it. And the bizarre, inscrutable, incomprehensible, ignorant, dumb, tone deaf, non visionary policy (or lack thereof) continues to this day. Perhaps even more so, if that is possible. And I say all this as a Yank. One who sees my country with some degree of objectivity, hopefully. But nonetheless, I see my country as a relatively lost nation, without much in the way of bearing, long term vision and enlightenment. 

3 hours ago, Chivas said:

 

Pretty speechless. Doctors are ignorant dear oh dear

So many doctors I have met, and been examined by were incredibly limited in their scope, their understanding of healing, operating a clean body, general health principals, and possessing any sort of knowledge of a wider variety of specialties, and forms of medicine, than that which they practice. Some will not even admit that there is any connection between diet and health. I have met some doctors who's ignorance boggled my mind. Very closed minded, and very narrow in scope. Of course, if you take a very narrow approach to medicine, you may be too conventional to see any of this. When I say some doctors are ignorant, I am not saying they are not smart, or they have not read alot of books, or that they do not know alot about their specialized areas. But, sometimes that does not mean much. So many doctors I have encountered (I am speaking of the standard allopathic medicine doctor) do little more than conduct examinations and write prescriptions. From my point of view, that is a form of ignorance. 

5 hours ago, xylophone said:

A very interesting post moonseeker, and I can only give you the answers as I see them, but I suspect they will be close to the mark?

 

Montclair and similar are sold in many places and the reason they were so popular is because they were cheap compared to other wines (and I mean those without fruit juice) and for that cheapness, one had to sacrifice quality, especially if one had been used to drinking reasonable to good wines in the past.

 

Having said that, there were some reasonable wine/fruit juice offerings available, and a couple of glasses at a time, for me anyway, seemed okay, but not something I would want to drink a lot of, because at one time I did partake in quite a few glasses and I did have a headache the next morning, which I don't usually get with red wine, but again perhaps that was me.

 

The better ones are, as one would expect, "fruity" and could be mistaken for a low quality wine from an area renowned for producing them, if one was not used to drinking anything better (and I have to say this carefully because I don't want to offend anyone).

 

As another poster has said, price is the main consideration and having said that, even now the 3 L cask of Montclair equates to a bottle cost of around 280 baht, which is still cheap, so no big deal in my opinion.

 

As for being popular in other countries, I did post an excerpt on the Montclair thread from a UK magazine which was lamenting the fact that these fruit wine mixes had found their way onto the shelves of UK supermarkets and that they were mixed in amongst the "normal" wines, which was a travesty according to the writer.

 

I have seen posts here which suggest that mixing various concoctions with Montclair, or with other drinks to make an alcoholic drink, is sufficient, but again in my opinion it is only sufficient if an alcoholic drink is what you are after, rather than a wine and all that goes with it.

 

Good commentary. Some drink to get a buzz, some drink to get loaded. I drink for fun, and when it comes to wine, I tend to drink for inspiration. Difficult to even know where to start to describe the difference between a Mont Clair, a really good single vineyard Russian River or Santa Lucia Highlands (both California) pinot noir, a sublime red burgundy, or a gorgeous McLaren Vale Shiraz. Mont Clair is made to appeal to a wide range of simple palates, where people are drinking for utility, and not looking for pleasure or inspiration from the wine. There are literally thousands of wines that fall into this category. Most are in the $3 to $10 range in the US. More like 400 baht to 1,000 baht here. Simple, basic wines, without much substance, mouthfeel, balance, elegance, volume or finish. The better quality wines have those qualities, and can be quite profound. If someone falls into the category I do, who loves wine, and does not drink alot of it regularly, then they may not mind spending a bit more (I do in the US, but rarely here, as the prices are so stupid here) for something that is inspiring, invigorating, gorgeous, and sublime. Sometimes, the difference between that experience, and a bottle that is just ok, is only $10 or so, in the US, where wine prices are very reasonable. 

I am not in the camp that spends hundreds or thousands of dollars on a bottle of wine, but I do have some very wealthy friends that do, and I sometimes have the good fortune of attending some of their events, and partaking of these bottles. Some are absolutely spectacular. Some are beyond belief. Some are puzzling, and I wonder why on earth anyone would spend that kind of money on them. I tend to think that I can derive about 70% as much enjoyment from a really good 2011 Lucia Soberanes Santa Lucia Highlands, for $55, as from a 2003 Comte Louis-Michel Liger-Belair La Romanee, at $1,200 a bottle. But that is just me. I have relatively simple tastes, compared to some of my really serious wine buddies. Then again, I do not have their budgets either. But even if I did, I would not be spending that kind of money on red burgundy, even though I love it. It is just too overpriced, these days. 

I will attach a review of a 2001 Chateau Rayas Chateauneuf du Pape, from one of my favorite wine writers, John Livingstone Learmonth. Those unfamiliar with the heady joys of great wine will just poo poo this, and say it is nonsense. But, enjoying a great bottle of wine requires quite a bit of imagination, to be able to decipher what it is that you are tasting and experiencing. It can be one of life's truly great pleasures. 

classic Rayas red robe with a light top. The bouquet resides quietly, has a red jam fruit, low-key spicing. There is calm sun in the glass here, a tender and well-extended aroma that involves spice, cinnamon, cloves, cumin. The palate starts in a spicy, dark, smoky fruit offer. It builds its tannins as it ends, strikes firmly there. There is a handsome heart to this finely tuned Rayas, and it carries mystery and still unlocked potential. Decanting advised, it’s a real no hurry wine. 2032-34 Oct 2015 Previously Nov 2013 ***** bright ruby robe – this looks well. The bouquet is compelling – it gives a curvy roundness of spice, garrigue dust, thyme, plums, very ripe wild strawberries, tobacco and cigar box – what a mixed palette! The palate spreads its perfumed panoply with great delicacy, a true Rayas hallmark. A serene, textured wine from another age, if not another planet. There is a liberal scatter of floral, grain tannins at the end. It is all in roundness, with some spark to liven it, a 2001 imprint. The spicing on the palate flows around its mature Grenache heart. Long and fine, but with implicit southern power as well. 2031-33  Nov 2013  Previously Dec 2007 **** has the usual middle level red robe – its core being red, the top light. There is a white pepper-floral/rose mix on the bouquet, with touches of caramel notably, and raisin and sweet spice, maybe some stalkiness – it is unusual. The palate is restrained, if a bit limited: red fruits are delivered, with the Asian spice notes again. A wine of delicate tread, but lacks a middle focus. The texture is a big card – it is a soft caress, and the aftertaste of flowers and spice is long. It could be riper, but is beguiling because it so off the register. The flavour is scented, and it gains weight late on, expressed as a vanilla, spice duo. Runs on well with air, so decant this. 14°. 2022-24 Dec 2007, Copenhagen 

Also, here are some of the wines from some recent wine events I have had the great pleasure of attending. Some of the wines were life changing! 

9 hours ago, petedk said:

Not only the tourist industry. 

 

Yesterday I was talking to the sales director of a cosmetic company. She was telling me how much sales have dropped the last year or so. She also said that only the well established outlets can survive. Many start ups close down after 2 or 3 months.

 

As for inflation. Two recent examples.

The motorcycle taxis near my home have increased their fares by 50% (not only for me, but for Thais too).. I know the amount (5 baht) is small but 50% is a big increase.

A coffee shop I visit regularly has just increased coffee prices from 50 to 60 Baht. (20 %). The list could go on and on.

 

If I increase my prices by 50% then i would say goodbye to all my customers.

Thank you. Always nice to get some commentary from someone not living in a bubble. Anyone living in the real world, who does not have a huge income can see that inflation is very real, and prices are going up all around us. Everywhere I go these days, prices are jumping. As you say, sometimes by 20 or 30%. How is that sustainable? I see it here, and I see it throughout the US, where inflation is rampant, despite what the govt. goombahs are saying. 

4 minutes ago, The Deerhunter said:

The (electric) lights are on, but nobody is home!!!!

Yep. All of these apply, to nearly every member of this administration. And alot of provincial politicians too.

1. Not the brightest light in the harbor. 

2. The light's on but no one's home. 

3. Not the brightest bulb in the box. 

4. A few screws short of a hardware store. 

5. Not the sharpest knife in the drawer. 

6. A few cards short of a deck. 

7. A few fries short of a Happy Meal. 

8. About as sharp as a marble. 

9. Only has one oar in the water. 

10. Smart as a bag of rocks. 

11. A burger short of a combo meal. 

12. The elevator doesn't go all the way to the top floor. 

13. A few peas short of a casserole. 

14. A few keys short of a keyboard. 

15. Not the brightest bulb on the Christmas tree. 

16. The gates are down and the lights are flashing, but the train isn't coming. 

17. As smart as a stick. 

18. Fell out of the stupid tree and hit every branch on the way down. 

19. An intellect rivaled only by garden tools. 

20. Has an IQ of room temperature. 

21. Couldn't pour water out of a boot with instructions on the heel. 

22. Not the brightest crayon in the box. 

23. One twist short of a slinky. 

24. Sharp as a sack of wet mice. 

25. More numb than a frozen mukluk. 

26. Not the sharpest crayon in the box 

27. Not the sharpest tool in the shed 

28. They are depriving some village of its idiot. 

29. A few threads short of a sweater. 

30. A few sandwiches short of a picnic. 

31. Driveway doesn't quite reach the road. 

32. The battery is not fully charged. 

33. About as sharp as a bowling ball. 

34. Dumber than a bag of hammers. 

35. Two bricks short of a load. 

36. A few clowns short of a circus. 

37. A few beers short of a six-pack. 

38. Dumber than a box of hair. 

39. A few tacos short of a fiesta platter. 

40. All foam no beer. 

41. As smart as bait. 

42. Chimney's clogged. 

43. Doesn't have all his dogs on one leash. 

44. Forgot to pay his brain bill. 

45. The antenna doesn't pick up all the channels. 

46. His belt doesn't go through all the loops. 

47. Another brain would be lonely. 

48. Missing a few buttons on his remote control. 

49. No grain in the silo. 

50. Proof that evolution CAN go in reverse. 

51. Receiver is off the hook. 

52. Has a leak in the skylight. 

53. Too much yardage between the goal posts. 

54. Dumb as a donkey. 

55. Not all the soldiers are marching in line. 

56. Dumber than paint. 

57. Half a bubble off plumb. 

58. A few fruit loops shy of a full bowl. 

59. Donated his brain to science before he was done with it. 

60. A few shades beyond blonde. 

61. Has to take turns for the family brain-cell. 

62. A few watts short of a light bulb. 

63. Dumb as a stump. 

64. Running on 3 cylinders. 

65. A few Bradys short of a bunch. 

66. Has the parachute but is missing the ripcord. 

67. Would lose a debate with a doorknob. 

68. Has an IQ lower than plant life. 

69. All telephone, no receiver. 

70. One ski short of a snowmobile. 

71. Wouldn't know if they were on foot or horseback. 

72. The logs are ablaze but the chimney is clogged. 

73. Eats soup with a fork. 

74. The wheel is spinning but the hamster fell off (or is dead). 

75. The cheese slid off his cracker. 

76. The engine is running but nobody is behind the wheel. 

77. A few fuses short of a full circuit. 

78. A tire short of an eighteen wheeler. 

79. Doesn't have all the chairs at the table. 

80. Dumber than a bag of rocks. 

81. A shining example of why you should avoid inbreeding. 

82. A few pecans short of a fruitcake. 

83. As fruity as a bag of Skittles™ 

84. Would argue with a signpost. 

85. If you gave them a penny for their thoughts, you'd get change. 

86. Dumb as a salt shaker. 

87. Has a mind like a steel trap: rusty and illegal in 37 states. 

88. Knitting with only one needle. 

89. The result of too much chlorine in the gene pool. 

90. Not the brightest bulb in the chandalier. 

91. Not the quickest bunny in the forest. 

92. The hard drive is spinning but the OS hasn't been installed. 

93. Not exactly running on all thrusters. 

94. A few toppings short of a Deluxe Pizza. 

95. A few burgers short of a barbecue. 

96. A few roos loose in the top paddock. 

97. The wind is blowing but nothing is moving. 

98. The umbrella is up but there's no rain. 

99. A few colors short of a rainbow. 

100. As bright as a lamp in Aladdin's cave. 

101. The boat doesn't have all the oars in the water. 

102. A few boats short of a fleet. 

103. A monosynaptic cretin (Don't understand it? 'nuff said) 

104. A few noodles short of a chow mein. 

105. A few bristles short of a broom. 

106. A few snags short of a barbie. 

107. Doesn't know whether to scratch his watch or wind his butt. 

108. Hasn't seen the ball since kickoff. 

109. The relative IQ of a deck chair. 

110. A poster child for birth control. 

111. A few players short of a team. 

112. Couldn't hit the floor if he fell on it. 

113. A few sheep short of a flock. 

114. If you stand close enough to them you can hear the sea. 

115. They have an IQ lower than their shoe size. 

116. A few gunmen short of a posse. 

117. As sharp as a pound of wet liver. 

118. Not the quickest horse in the stable. 

119. Has a full six-pack, but lacks the plastic thingy that holds them all together. 

120. Most people drink from the fountain of knowledge, they only gargled. 

121. Not the fastest ship in the fleet. 

122. Ten cents short of a dollar. 

123. A few boxes short of a pallet. 

124. A few grams short of a pound. 

125. Shipped but not delivered. 

126. A few springs short of a watch. 

127. A few bits short of a byte. 

128. Only has half a cord in the woodshed. 

129. The elevator goes to the top but the doors don't open. 

130. A cup and a saucer short of a place setting. 

131. If their nose was on upside down they'd drown in the rain. 

132. Three ice bricks shy of an igloo. 

133. A few marshmallows short of a bowl of Lucky Charms. 

134. A few bales short of a wagon load. 

135. Couldn't find their way out of a paper bag. 

136. A few needles short of a sewing kit. 

137. One IQ point above brain death. 

138. Any slower and he'd need to be watered once a week. 

139. Playing hockey with a warped puck. 

140. All booster, no payload. 

141. Has some lug nuts rattling in the hubcaps. 

142. Nice house, not much furniture. 

143. Was hiding behind the door when they passed out brains. 

144. One board member short of a quorum. 

145. Batteries not included. 

146. Lost contact with the mothership. 

147. A few cracker jacks short of a full box. 

148. A few yards short of a touchdown. 

149. Not the sharpest pitchfork in the barn. 

150. A few cowboys short of a rodeo. 

151. He's got a bow but no arrows. 

152. A couple pineapples shy of a luau. 

153. A few roots shy of an apple tree. 

154. The phone's on but there's no reception. 

155. If brains were dynamite, they couldn't blow their hat off. 

156. If brains were dynamite, they wouldn't have enough to blow their nose. 

157. A quick as a snail crossing super-glue. 

158. If brains were webbing, they couldn't put a set of gaiters on a sparrow. 

159. His corn bread isn't done in the middle. 

160. A few leftovers short of a bread pudding. 

161. Not singing from the same hymn sheet. 

162. Not wrapped too tight. 

163. Not all the dots are on the dice. 

164. Have had more meaningful conversations with a brick wall. 

165. A few plums short of a pie 

166. Ran out of gas before their car. 

167. Nice cage, but no bird 

168. Left the scene before his body. 

169. A few dollars short of a paycheck 

170. That bats are out of the bellfry. 

171. Has a 4-wheel drive but only three are spinning. 

172. A few Prozac short of a prescription. 

173. Can't find their butt with two hands and a road map. 

174. A couple shakes short of a sauce bottle. 

175. A few people short of a party. 

176. A pinky shy of a hand. 

177. A few leaves short of a bush. 

178. Not the tallest tree in the forest. 

179. Numb as a hake. 

180. Not the fastest car on the track. 

181. Couldn't hit a target with an atomic bomb. 

182. The laptop's on but there's no internet connection. 

183. Not the crunchiest chip in the bag. 

184. If they had a brain they'd be on the floor playing with it. 

185. One slice shy of a loaf. 

186. Out in left field without a catchers mitt. 

187. A few megabytes short of a gig. 

188. A few electrons short of an isotope. 

189. A few grapes short of a fruit salad. 

190. If he went any slower he'd have to speed up to stop. 

191. Candy bowl not quite full. 

192. Fiddle's not in tune. 

193. If brains were electricity, they wouldn't have enough to light a firefly. 

194. Their dipstick doesn't reach the oil. 

195. A few feathers short of a duck. 

196. They aren't the most absorbent sponge in the sink. 

197. Their dog teaches them new tricks. 

198. A few whiskers short of a kitten. 

199. The bicycle works but the training wheels wobble. 

200. The army invades but they're full of beans. 

201. Is a lost ball in high weeds. 

202. The pilot light has gone out. 

203. Running a quart low. 

204. Brother was an only child. 

205. Biscuits aren't quite baked. 

206. Have too many moving parts and only one string. 

207. Conducting without an orchestra. 

208. An open book but the pages are blank. 

209. Has one wheel in the sand. 

210. Not the crispest shirt in the closet. (used in The Persuader by Lee Child) 

211. The phone's connected but there's no dial tone. 

212. Would change a tire in the fast lane. 

213. As sharp as a mashed potato. 

214. Hit bottom and kept digging. 

215. An olive short of a martini. 

216. No seeds in their pumpkin. 

217. $HOME=/dev/null 

218. Slow as a slug on dope. 

219. A few carrots short of a carrot cake. 

220. Not rowing with both oars. 

221. Has a mind like steel...wool. 

222. Tuppence short of a bob. 

223. Not the sharpest cheese in the bin. 

224. A few atoms short of critical mass. 

225. Not the brightest button in the blouse. 

226. The upstairs telephone line's been disconnected. 

227. So dense, light bends around them. 

228. Missing a spark plug. 

229. In a battle of wits unarmed. 

230. Comes from the shallow end of the gene pool. (from The Lion King) 

231. One player short of a solitaire game. 

232. Furniture's there, but in the wrong rooms. 

233. A few stars short of a galaxy. 

234. A few tracks short of an album. 

235. A few shingles short of a roof. 

236. If evolution was an experiment, their ancestors were the control. 

237. Hard to believe he beat out 100 million other sperm. 

238. A few drops short of a bucket full. 

239. A few trees short of a forest. 

240. Their banjo is short a few strings. 

241. If their brain was on the edge of a razor blade it would look like a pea rolling down a four-lane highway. 
 

A change in consciousness must start at the most basic level. Most Thais think plastic is the best thing ever invented, and the percentage of Thais that even consider the negative ramifications of plastic is incredibly small. This requires some education. I always do two things to avoid the consumption of plastic.

1. I bring re-usable bags with me every time I go shopping. I use the larger shopping bags I buy in the US, which are made of recycled materials. Most of the clerks have to be dealt with. Even when they see my bag, they still start putting the stuff in plastic. I always mai sai toom. No plastic! Then they start loading up my bag. Most look at me like I am from Mars. Do I care? Not one iota. About 1% thank me, and get it. Not many do. My Thai wife does not like bringing the bags to the store. I force her to. By now, she expects it, and sometimes even asks if I have any bags in the car, or on the motorbike. Same with the water bottles. It used to embarrass her. Now, it is second nature, as I have been doing this for so long, she expects it. So, if a Thai can be conditioned to follow these simple principals, then anyone can. 

2. I bring a bottle of water with me, every time I go to a restaurant. I refill my plastic bottles from the 20 liter bottles at home. It is easy. I never buy bottled water at a restaurant. This saves 300-600 bottles a year. I use a plastic bottle dozens of times. I never get any flack from the restaurants. Only once did someone say something to me. She said you cannot bring you own water. My response was if you serve the water in a glass bottle, and I do not have to consume a plastic bottle, I am happy to pay for that. She was lost. I told her to leave and get me my food. She went away. 

We simply cannot say we are concerned about the environment, and then do nothing about it. Action demonstrates commitment. Lack of action demonstrates nothing. Lastly, restaurants can demonstrate their commitment, by serving drinking water from the 20 liter bottles. It saves alot of plastic. They lose a small amount of revenue, by not selling thousands of bottles of water. But, their operation is still profitable, and they are making a real difference. 

There really is no need to be consuming water in plastic bottles. At least not often. There are alternatives. Those damn bottles are a real culprit, when it comes to fouling the environment. What can we do, if we say we care? Are we committed, or just complaining? If we are not going out of our way to do our little part, then we are definitely part of the problem, not part of a solution. 

These are the quality tourists the TAT is pursuing. Almost 10 million Chinese visited Thailand in 2017. They are putting all of their eggs in the Chinese basket. Good luck with that.

I am sure these people are not representative of the average Chinese tourist. But what can one even say? Do they live like that at home? Why such disrespect? I hesitate to leave anything in a hotel room when I check out. Were these guests human, or did they rent the room to animals?

5 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Agreed about that.

However in the case in the OP, he may have offended them, but he did not deny them the right to have a cake, as they obviously had one. This, IMO, is more about activists using the power of the government to destroy people they disagree with. If I were to sue everyone that has offended me, I'd be involved in hundreds of cases.

Just like Tiny Don. He was involved in 3,600 lawsuits, at the time he took office. Perhaps more than any man in history? Quite a legacy.

I seriously doubt he will finish his first term. More than likely he will be forced to resign, or will be impeached. The dems are going to crush the GOP come November. This is a certainty. Let us see how this plays out. Will be alot of fun to watch. The Tiny Don TV show will take a seriously dark turn, very soon I predict. Within just several more episodes.

Just some general thoughts on this fascinating topic:

I consider most sex workers in Thailand, to be far, far more honest than the average American woman. At least here, a man knows where he stands, if he wants sex with a woman. In a minute, you can determine exactly what it will require financially, and what you will get in return. In the US, it can take multiple dates, and countless dinners and gifts, to get to the precious zone. There is no set price. There is no knowing what it is going to take. Many of the women I have dated, have been with hundreds of men, in a similar way as many of the massage girls here. And those men have paid dearly. The only difference was that the price was not stated up front. 

I personally have known women who earn a million baht a year. I have known women who have had six boyfriends, who sent them a total of 100,000 baht per month. I also know a gal who worked in Singapore at a brothel. She was stunning. She earned 3 million baht cash, all clear, in 16 months. Took it all home. Build a gorgeous house, started a business, and is totally independent financially. To this day. That was several years ago. All good. Do not know how she relates to men at this point. And I doubt she will ever be capable of a healthy relationship, after 3,000 men or more, in my estimation. But, she did establish herself. I give her credit for that.

There is no doubt that the industry here is vast, and accounts for a significant amount of the GDP. I think that figure of 2% is pure nonsense. It is far higher. The authorities seem to be determined to slowly rid the country of the industry, to make way for the massive growth of Chinese tourism. If you have any doubts about that, just visit Samui or Phuket. They are pale shadows of their former selves, in terms of the industry, and available choices. It is just another in an incessant chain of bad decisions being made by this horrific and grossly incompetent administration. 

Unless, and until the young women are given better alternatives, the industry will continue. When a person decides to devote four years of their life, and a substantial sum of money, to attending a university, and then graduates, and is able to earn only 5,000 to 10,000 baht more than the one with no education at all, there is something wrong with the system. 

It is my contention that it depends on a few factors. The first and most important factor is how many? How many men has she been with? If she is relatively new, and has only gotten with between 20-200 men, more than likely she is still sane, and could possess a good heart. If she has gotten with over 200, the chances decrease. If over 500, harder for her to relate to men as decent human beings. Once you get to the "around the world level", where she has been with over 1,000 men, all bets are off. The heart hardens, and more than likely she is bitter for life. I am sure there are exceptions. But, the risk in getting involved with a highly experienced bar girl, or massage girl, is great.

With the exception of the men who are clever enough to hire a private detective to look into her background, and pay some real money to do it right, there is no way to know. They all have stories. And most of the stories are ones that they know we want to hear. So many times I have heard friends say,  "Oh no, she is new. She has only been working at the bar two weeks. I was her first customer. She worked in a factory before that. I could tell how innocent she was'. Yeah right!

For the men out there who are trying to find their way, in this rather complicated arena, always remember one thing. Take your time. If it is good, it is only going to get better. If there are issues, they are going to reveal themselves over time. 2 years minimum, before you commit large sums of cash, or commit to marriage. And that is two years, full time! Be like Bond. Do as Bond would do. Be a man. Man up. Now is the time to show who you are. 

And lastly, the one about getting along with the parents is a good one. Often, that is a sign of an emotionally healthy woman. When I used to date, the two questions I would ask were-

1. How is your relationship with your mom and dad? How about your siblings?

2. What is the most money you have ever spent on a handbag? Wow. Was that ever a revealing question. The answers were all over the map, but inevitably demonstrated alot about her character. 

5 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

I agree that a Muslim baker should have the right to refuse to serve a woman that does not conform to his beliefs. As long as someone can get a cake somewhere else, who cares? 

IMO such regulations should only apply to FEDERAL and LOCAL GOVERNMENT agencies, as they have a duty to serve everyone.

Private business owners should have the right to live as they choose.

Apparently, PC has bred a generation of people that are choosing to destroy other people because they disagree with their opinions, and unfortunately the federal government is assisting them to do so.

Well, the same thing can be said about intolerance in general. It is ugly. It demonstrates a tremendous degree of ignorance, and has nothing to do with religion or especially with spirituality. It is about separation, not a sense of community. I do not like governmental interference in one's affairs. But, I dislike ignorant intolerance even more. In the extreme, the Wahhabi Muslims, and the orthodox Jews are great examples of this, and both demonstrate an extreme arrogance, and sense of superiority, that is dangerous to society. 

Tiny D. is really despised and considered to be a complete ignoramus and racist within the black and hispanic communities in the US. So, he is probably doing this to appeal to those communities. To appear to be compassionate. Sorry Don. It is not working. Most of us are not buying this abuse of power. You are a clown. You are a racist. You are a hateful charlatan. You are not a leader of men. You are fool. We know you want Kanye to like you even more than he already does, but this is a desperate move.

3 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

The worst thing that has happened to LOS in the time I have been visiting is the increase in cars that has exceeded the capacity of the roads to accommodate. Singapore has had to take drastic methods to stabilise car numbers, and most Thai towns/ cities are just as bad as Singapore, but nothing is done to stop the increase of cars on the road.

Anything that stops people in towns/ cities buying cars is a good thing.

This is true. Nothing is being done in the way of traffic mitigation, to cope with the massive increase in the number of vehicles on the road. Hope they get their act together soon, with the high speed trains. 

4 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

The staples in LOS are rice, vegetables, native Thai fruit, with a small amount of seafood and chicken/ pork. The examples you give are not staples.

I go by what I have to pay. when the same food I ate in early 90s has only increased by 15 baht, that is not a large increase. Pattaya baht bus increase 0%.

Last time I stayed in Pattaya, rooms still cost 400 to 600 for reasonable place. A small increase in 30 years.

If everyone didn't buy food that is unreasonably expensive the price will come down. No one is forcing you to buy watermelons or Pomelos.

People eat far too much meat which causes cancer and is generally bad for us in excessive amounts. Plus it's against Buddhism. Chicken and pork are still cheap. If one doesn't want to pay a lot for meat, eat those instead of beef and lamb.

Does anyone think prices haven't increased in every country? Does no one remember the 1980s?

Seafood is contaminated by sea pollution and is being overexploited. people should eat less of it. Wheat and dairy are bad for us- Thais didn't normally get fat before they became easily available.

Before Thais became more affluent, the average person ate a much healthier diet, and only rich people became obese.

Beer: alcohol is one of the worst commonly available drugs, causing disease, violence and poverty. Anything that reduces use of it in any form is welcome, IMO.

Sorry, I was not looking for a sermon from the pulpit. Please keep your moral beliefs on food to yourself. We just do not need to hear it. We eat and drink what we choose to. It is not your place to try to change the world, and if you want to, do it on your own time, and in privacy. However, I highly encourage you to focus that effort on yourself. We all need to improve. 

All we can go by is what I eat and drink, and I see that going up all around me, not only here, but around the world. Especially in the US, where inflation is rampant right now, despite what the government hooligans say.

No parent should ever have to bury their child. Such tragedy. Two of their kids. What can one say? He looked like a decent chap. Wonder what could have happened to him?

50 minutes ago, mike324 said:

avoid at all cost due to parts availability and cost of repairs. LGs are good but again, parts availabltiy is the problem.

 

Stick with Mitsu and Daikin, dont' cheap out and go for thai brands like central. The price looks good but they don't last and they are loud.

You may be right. I know for a fact that with the Samsung LED TV's, they stop making parts after 36 months. So, if one breaks, and nobody can scrounge around for a part, you dump the unit in the dumpster. I have done this with two Samsung TV's to date, and will never buy another. However, I think their refrigerators and AC units are high quality. Just not sure what it takes to fix them, if they go kaput after a few years.