connda

From a Western perspective, the term "Insurgent" is a pejorative meaning "a bad person who needs to be killed." But in most cases the term is used to define "an oppressed individual in a once sovereign nation who has risen up and is fighting to liberate their nation from domestic and foreign enemies." However, read a Western main-stream media article and "insurgents" are always the bad guys because the term is always used from the perspective of a country like e.g., Vietnam, Malvinas, Granada, Yugoslavia, Somalia, Iraq, Libya, Lebanon, Central African Republic, Sudan, Mali, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Chad, Haiti, Syria, Afghanistan, etc, where Western colonial powers intervene in the domestic affairs of a sovereign nation, enter the country as occupiers, and begin a war using advanced weapons usually slaughtering countless civilians (called by this sterile term: collateral damage) in order to "kill the insurgents." Interestingly enough, the term "freedom fighter" is often coined to refer to the internal proxy forces of the colonial power which are created and funded to fight the "insurgents." So in a way I don't completely blame Westerner citizens of colonial powers for not understanding, as virtually all citizens of these countries (including myself) were literally indoctrinated from birth to believe the "one and only one narrative of Geo-politics" that all of the killing done "over there" by your country is for "the defense of your nation" (which is thousands of miles away from where your military is fighting) and for spreading "liberty and democracy" to the savages in foreign lands. (Do ya want to know all of the disparaging terms used to label North Vietnamese "savages" during the war? They weren't nice, but they were used to impress on Western troops that all Vietnamese were savages. And new terms as created to label all insurgents in countries where Western colonial troops are sent to put-down insurgencies. You have to dehumanize those you wish to kill).

To troll bars, get drunk, and "boom-boom" bar-girls. Isn't that why all expats are here? "One night in Bangkok and the world's your oyster The bars are temples but their pearls ain't free You'll find a god in every golden cloister And if you're lucky, then the god's a she I can feel an angel slidin' up to me."

That's not going to happen ☝️ any more than Russia is going to lay down it's weapons and give up the territories which are now part of the Russian Federation, or China is going to allow Taiwan to secede from mainline China. But those are all demands that the West is willing to start World War 3 over...and they will, I have no doubt. Why? Hegemony and hubris. Remember, the United States is the "Most Exceptional Country In The World" and all of the lowly nations must "bend a knee" - or else! Well kids - what you're going to experience is a self-fulfilling prophesy. Stay tuned.....!

Heat wave? I judge temperature by the consistency of a can of Ghee that I use in cooking. My Ghee thermometer now has chunks of butter floating around now. I haven't seen that since last Cool Season. Heat wave huh? Right. The polar ice-caps are melting and the oceans are boiling. Of course they are.

I won't even elaborate other that to state the obvious: Most Westerners have been raised from birth to believe that Israel is God's Gift to the World. And of course, God gave them the Eastern Mediterranean (not the British via the Belfour Agreement) and as such they have the God-given right to ethnically cleanse the entire region since 1948 and anyone who disagrees is a "terrorist." The only problem? The local Arab and Persian population is tired of the ethnic cleansing. Now if you are the typical Westerner, then all Arabs and Persians are dirty camel-riding ragheads who don't deserve to breath the same air as "God's Chosen People" sooooo, ya'll root root root to <cue the Beach Boys "bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran" The same goes for Westerner's sentiments about Russia, China, and all other countries which you have been raised to viscerally hate. So? Don't be surprised when the nukes fly. In this Orwellian world of Newspeak, the oppressors are the oppressed, and the aggressors are the victims of aggression. The world stage is better than a fictional screen-play nowadays, kinda like Doctor Strangelove, and just about as satirically funny.

Ever light your farts? Much more fun when you're both stoned and drunk.

The Rat Pack were some real boozers and tail-chasers. Can ya name them? Man I was brought up on these guy's music and comedy. I'm glad I was born when I was born. Those were the days. "Boy the way Glenn Miller played Songs that made the hit parade. Guys like us we had it made, Those were the days. And you knew who you were then, Girls were girls and men were men, Mister we could use a man Like Herbert Hoover John F. Kennedy again. Didn't need no welfare state, Everybody pulled his weight. Gee our old LaSalle ran great. Those were the days." God, I was Meathead in the 1960s, now I've turned into Archie Bunker. <laughs> Meathead is still Meathead tho'

Yeahhhh, but you decided to take a detour down this lane: 🤑"Most of them might be losers, came here after a failed marriage, insufficient funds, or any other low income, hoping to forget their misery by buying booze and sometimes sex. Poor life I'd say." So you got this reply: 🙄 "It never fails to amaze me, the number of "Holier Than Thou" and "Richer Than You" types who can't wait to pontificate on Aseannow about being morally superior to other expats here." I thought the shoe fit, so I put your foot into it and tied the laces for ya.

Ohhh - loved rich red wine, but <gag> terrible freaking hangovers.

Yep.

Yeah - you and me both, and there must be more of us out there. It's something about getting older and changes in the metabolism. It just doesn't feel like it use to. Alcohol, weed, even "other stuff" (I won't elaborate other than to say - "Timothy Leary's dead...Noooo, no no, he's outside, looking in, Driving that train, high on cocaine, Casey Jones you better, watch your speed," and Carlos Castaneda and his brujo friends). Most mind-altering, feel good stuff is now in the "Been There, Done That, It Was Fun, Don't Feel Like Doing It Anymore Because It Doesn't Have The Same 'Feel') category. So now I just get my jollies in different ways without the buzz. But with that said, I know many guys and gals who quite literally drink themselves into an early grave and alcohol, bars, and hanging out with others who like to get hammered is a central part of their lives right up into their elderly years. It's funny, I have a friend like that, a bit younger than me, who now has some serious health problems...and suddenly his kids, grand-kids, and family have become really important to him. It's good to see. I have wondered how many of the bar-flies will hang with him to the end? But family and non-bar-fly friends have become important. That's something to celebrate. But if the bar-flies want to indulge, more power to them. I'm not going to knock it, but now it's just not my cup of tea. But for everyone else? Up to you!

I'd rather have a mini-keg of craft beer in a tub of ice.

It never fails to amaze me, the number of "Holier Than Thou" and "Richer Than You" types who can't wait to pontificate on Aseannow about being morally superior to other expats here. If some guy finds a modicum of happiness lazing his days away in Margaritaville with young Thai lasses willing to satisfy his carnal needs, for a price, then honestly - what the hell's business is it of anyone but him?

Based on it's Geographical location to the Eastern Eurasian "Heartland," Thailand is anything BUT "irrelevant" which is why there is a new push to turn the Thai ship-of-state onto a Westerly course, install a Captain who will do the US' bidding ( 🤔 Like a member of the Shinawatra dynasty 🙄 ), arm the ship to the teeth, and point those weapons at China. Metaphorically speaking, the US would be happy to load up that ship with high-explosives and ram it into the Chinese ship-of-state. Ordo ab Chao. US Embassies are basically Spook Central. Nothing unique as all embassies are Spook Central for the guest country's embassies. But look for a rise in the number of Western NGOs appearing in Thailand. You can consider those to be diplomatic and even hostile "tugboats" sent to "steer" the "wayward" Thai ship-of-state in a direction desirable to the United States interests. Thailand's own interests are what's irrelevant - at least to the US. They just need to find politicians who will sell Thailand's interest down the river for a piece of the golden pie offered by the likes of this US ambassador (think stacks of Benjamins 100's).

Run, Thailand - Run. Translated: "Thailand has applied to become a member of BRICS and its banking structure makes it a good candidate for a new monetary mBridge system of international payments which completely bypasses SWIFT. The US ambassador is needed to threaten Thailand consistently with hellfire and brimstone and massive sanctions if they don't back-down into retreat and promise to become an economic and military vassal of the US, publicly denounce China, and promise to dump their BRICS aspirations, as well as promise to become a forward deployment base for the new Asian NATO, US military bases, and missile batteries pointed toward China, Myanmar, Laos, and the Straits of Malacca." Now - that's closer to reality.

The builder and owner should sue for defamation. I sounds like whoever lodged the complaint is just trying to make trouble.

I don't see how that looks like a "temple pavilion."

It makes you feel good. Haven't you ever drank. With that said, the effect doesn't do much for me anymore. I'm fine without it except on rare occasions. What others do? Up to them. Don't do cannabis anymore either and for the same reason. If was fun as hell when I was younger. Now I just garden, play guitar, and read. Who needs to be stoned. Are you a "Friend of Bill" or Bob or whoever that is. You don't usually see people writing anti-alcohol thread unless they have issues with "The Drink." "We never eat fruitcake because it has rum, and one little bite turns a man to a bum. What's the sorriest sight in the whole human race, but a man in the gutter with crumbs on his face." - Ault Temperance Union Diddy

How did you exchange money or did you do it in person?

I love the "common and generally accepted" tropes.

You can believe or discount anything you wish. If you have lived long enough, should have read about this in the past. "Source or I don't believe." Well feel free not to believe it. I've worked in blue-collar jobs where illegal migrants were hired to to the menial work. I was friends with some of these guys and know first-hand they are paid peanuts compared to citizens. "I don't believe you! Grrrrrrr." I don't care. Up to you. My life doesn't revolve around making people like you happen. "I'm triggered!" I don't care about that either. Grow thicker skin.

That's how Western aligned countries work. Underpay the brown people to come and work on the plantation.

Well on the flip side, there has probably been a couple of hundred Palestinian women and children killed for each hostage taken and for each Israel killed on Oct 7 2023. That collective terminal punishment should show Hamas a thing or two, 'eh? I think I saw how effective that was in a movie. "Kill one of ours we'll kill 100 of yours." Fair's fair, right?

Here is another issue I've thought about that I'm not sure how to resolve. I believe that places like Ebay will hold payment in escrow and an intermediary until a buyer receives and accepts the goods. If you're selling online, the receipt of funds and the receipt of good is pretty much done on a handshake if you are not actually performing the final transaction in person. Given all the scams and scammers it's an issue that I'm not sure how to resolve.

Dee = Good (in Thai)