connda

Be afraid. Be very afraid. Isolate. Get your shots. Conform. Be afraid. Be very afraid.

When Covid hit, one of the discussions within scientific communities which essentially were dismissed if not actively censored was the role of immunological memory and memory B cells in repeat infections. The gist of the discussion were that, according to the "experts," everyone needed high levels of neutralizing antibodies in the form of Covid shots in order to be protected against Sars-Cov-2 infection. The role of immunological memory to past exposure of Sars viruses and natural immunity after a Sars-Cov-2 infection were dismissed out of hand, and in many cases still is. Why? You can't sell shots to people who understand the mechanics of immunology. Anyone with university degrees in life sciences should understand the basics of immunology, well, at least when I attended university. Nowadays god only knows what is being taught in Western universities. Probably "how not to think and analyze, but how to accept everything you are told with blind faith." Sorry - that's religion, not scientific inquiry.

If you are retirement age, you probably already had the jab(s) as a kid and the scar to prove it.

I recently read that Sky Lanterns where banned as of 2022 in Chiang Mai during Loi Krathong. The combination of the Krathongs on the river and the lanterns in the sky WERE the Loi Krathong festival. Did the powers that be manage to destroy a culturally iconic festival in Chiang Mai. Do they actually enforce that ban? Personally I don't care - I lived in Chiang Mai back in the day and have fond memories. But if the powers who need to control the commoners managed to ban one of the things that made the festival so unique and special? Then I won't be suggesting to any potential foreign tourists to bother going to Chiang Mai during the now deprecated festival. Enforced? Not enforced? Same as it was 10 years ago? Different? just wondering.

And another big payday from large pharmaceutical companies. People are too stupid to see the obvious.

Enough that I'm sure not worried about it at all - plus I'm not in what would be called a "high risk group." Your smallpox shot will provide Immunological memory - doubt you have anything to worry about. It's essentially the same vaccine. Fyi - this whole thing is massive hyperbole. Again!

External SSD drives are expensive little suckers. I still just use HDD for backups and storage. That's all they are - backup and storage - so there really isn't any need for speed. Well, imho. I just bought another 2TB HDD USB 3.0 drive to store some virtual machines backups. They're plenty fast for just backing stuff up.

Nice write-up!

None of my laptops have "died," they just become too slow when I know there are significantly faster systems - so I upgrade to faster hardware and generally give my old system away or keep them as a backup. But I do use these consistently. Many of them are thin enough to fit in your laptop bag with the laptop. No reason not to use them unless you're trying to conserve battery power.

Give us a price range. Also, do you need MS WIndows or can you get by using a Linux version. MS Windows is hardware intensive, Linux is not. You will not need anything but a basic graphic card which will bring the price down as well. So again: what is your definition of "not too pricey." From the minimum to the maximum you'd like to spend in THB?

Huh? I wrote what <laughs>.

Which means I'll personally do what I've done since I stopped working here in 2011 - Not a da*m thing. And I sure as hell have not worried about it unlike those who keep beating this dead buffalo.

No it doesn't. Look right above the Islamaphobic post above yours. 👆 Summary: There is no "God" in Buddhism. Buddhism in not theistic. Siddhartha Gautama was a man. Siddhartha Gautama Buddha was a man awakened to an unrealized potential within all men. But with that said, Buddhist Cosmology would blow you away with its pantheon of deities from the lowest realms of Hell to the highest forms of Brahmanic gods.

There is no "God" in Buddhism. Buddhism in not theistic. Siddhartha Gautama was a man. Siddhartha Gautama Buddha was a man awakened to an unrealized potential within all men. Although called a "religion," I see Buddhism as a Philosophy In Action. And I practice Buddhism. You will be want to find me say, "I practice the religion of Buddhism" as I don't consider Buddhism to be a religion. But i am in a minority. But with that said, Buddhist Cosmology would blow you away with its pantheon of deities from the lowest realms of Hell to the highest forms of Brahmanic gods. Practice meditation for a few decades and it suddenly doesn't see so far-fetched. Just saying - if you haven't touched it, then you can't know. However, with that said, I am a Buddhist within the Theravada Kammathana Tradition. There is no "god worship" here. But our fellow Buddhist practitioners in the Mahayana and the Tibetan Vajrayāna sects are a little more "deity-centric" in their beliefs.

Dasa Pāramīs 1. Dāna-pāramī: generosity 2. Sīla-pāramī: virtue 3. Nekkhamma-pāramī: renunciation of sensuality (and of the household life) 4. Paññā-pāramī: the search for discernment 5. Viriya-pāramī: persistence 6. Khanti-pāramī: endurance, patience 7. Sacca-pāramī: truthfulness 8. Adhiṭṭhāna-pāramī: determination 9. Mettā-pāramī: goodwill 10. Upekkhā-pāramī: equanimity The Four Brahmavihārās – The Sublime Attitudes 1. Loving kindness (maitrī/mettā) 2. Compassion (karuṇā) 3. Sympathetic Joy (muditā) 4. Equanimity (upekṣā/upekkhā) Dāna: Generosity Dāna pāramī saṃpanno, (generosity / perfection / endowed) Dāna upapāramī saṃpanno, Dāna paramattha-pāramī saṃpanno, Mettā – Maitrī - Karunā - Muditā - Upekkhā pāramī saṃpanno Itipi so bhagavā Endowed with the perfection of giving, (parami) Endowed with the higher perfection of giving, (upaparami) Endowed with the ultimate perfection of giving, (paramatta parami) Endowed with the perfection of loving kindness, friendliness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity, So indeed is the Blessed One. Sīla: Virtue Sīla pāramī saṃpanno, Sīla upapāramī saṃpanno, Sīla paramattha-pāramī saṃpanno, Mettā Maitrī Karunā Muditā Upekkhā pāramī saṃpanno, itipi so bhagavā Endowed with the perfection of virtue, endowed with the higher perfection of virtue, endowed with the ultimate perfection of virtue, endowed with the perfection of loving kindness, friendliness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity, so indeed is the Blessed One. Nekkhama: Renunciation Nekkhamma pāramī saṃpanno, Nekkhamma upapāramī saṃpanno, Nekkhamma paramattha-pāramī saṃpanno, Mettā Maitrī Karunā Muditā Upekkhā pāramī saṃpanno, itipi so bhagavā Endowed with the perfection of renunciation, endowed with the higher perfection of renunciation, endowed with the ultimate perfection of renunciation, endowed with the perfection of loving kindness, friendliness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity, so indeed is the Blessed One. Vīriya: Persistence Vīriya pāramī saṃpanno, Vīriya upapāramī saṃpanno, Vīriya paramattha-pāramī saṃpanno, Mettā Maitrī Karunā Muditā Upekkhā pāramī saṃpanno, itipi so bhagavā Endowed with the perfection of energy, endowed with the higher perfection of energy, endowed with the ultimate perfection of energy, endowed with the perfection of loving kindness, friendliness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity, so indeed is the Blessed One. Paññā: Wisdom (Discernment) Paññā pāramī saṃpanno, Paññā upapāramī saṃpanno, Paññā paramattha-pāramī saṃpanno, Mettā Maitrī Karunā Muditā Upekkhā pāramī saṃpanno, itipi so bhagavā Endowed with the perfection of wisdom, endowed with the higher perfection of wisdom, endowed with the ultimate perfection of wisdom, endowed with the perfection of loving kindness, friendliness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity, so indeed is the Blessed One. Khanti: Patience Khanti pāramī saṃpanno, Khanti upapāramī saṃpanno, Khanti paramattha-pāramī saṃpanno, Mettā Maitrī Karunā Muditā Upekkhā pāramī saṃpanno, itipi so bhagavā Endowed with the perfection of patience, endowed with the higher perfection of patience, endowed with the ultimate perfection of patience, endowed with the perfection of loving kindness, friendliness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity, so indeed is the Blessed One. Sacca: Truthfulness (Honesty) Sacca pāramī saṃpanno, Sacca upapāramī saṃpanno, Sacca paramattha-pāramī saṃpanno, Mettā Maitrī Karunā Muditā Upekkhā pāramī saṃpanno, itipi so bhagavā Endowed with the perfection of honesty, endowed with the higher perfection of honesty, endowed with the ultimate perfection of honesty, endowed with the perfection of loving kindness, friendliness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity, so indeed is the Blessed One. Adhiṭṭhāna: Determination Adhiṭṭhāna pāramī saṃpanno, Adhiṭṭhāna upapāramī saṃpanno, Adhiṭṭhāna paramattha-pāramī saṃpanno, Mettā Maitrī Karunā Muditā Upekkhā pāramī saṃpanno, itipi so bhagavā Endowed with the perfection of determination, endowed with the higher perfection of determination, endowed with the ultimate perfection of determination, endowed with the perfection of loving kindness, friendliness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity, so indeed is the Blessed One. Mettā: Goodwill Mettā pāramī saṃpanno, Mettā upapāramī saṃpanno, Mettā paramattha-pāramī saṃpanno, Mettā Maitrī Karunā Muditā Upekkhā pāramī saṃpanno, itipi so bhagavā Endowed with the perfection of loving-kindness, endowed with the higher perfection of loving-kindness, endowed with the ultimate perfection of loving-kindness, endowed with the perfection of loving kindness, friendliness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity, so indeed is the Blessed One. Upekkhā: Equanimity Upekkhā pāramī saṃpanno, Upekkhā upapāramī saṃpanno, Upekkhā paramattha-pāramī saṃpanno, Mettā Maitrī Karunā Muditā Upekkhā pāramī saṃpanno, itipi so bhagavā Endowed with the perfection of equanimity, endowed with the higher perfection of equanimity, endowed with the ultimate perfection of equanimity, endowed with the perfection of loving kindness, friendliness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity, so indeed is the Blessed One.

It has to do with the first of the 10 Paramis or the 10 Perfections of Theravada Buddhism. The first Parami is Dana, or generosity. Now in a perfect Buddhist world one would give for the sake of giving. Unfortunately most Thais whom I know give with the full expectation of getting something in return be it as mundane as wealth and riches to more spiritual inclinations of a rebirth in a better realm of existence. My wife is a mix between those two - giving with the expectation of receiving something material in return, but also hoping for a better rebirth. For myself - I give because it is the right thing to do. I give with no expectation of anything in return. Why? Most Thais follow the kind of Buddhism practiced by non-meditation "academic" monks who can be found in most city and village temples. That includes my wife. I follow the Theravada Kammathana Forest Tradition of Thai meditation masters. Back to the Paramis, in this case Sila, or morality. The kind of Buddhism practiced by non-meditation "academic" monks who can be found in city and village temples follows a rather "loose" form of morality established in the Buddhist Vinaya, or moral precepts. The Theravada Kammathana Forest Tradition of Thai meditation masters follows a strict adherence to the Vinaya which simply is not followed by most Thai monks. With that said, you'll probably find that lay followers of the former kind of monks to follow a loose form of morality as well as expecting "earthly rewards" for their giving of "Dana." The lay followers of the latter Kammathana Forest Tradition are more likely to give with little expectation of "earthly rewards" but possibly an expectation that their acts of generosity will assist in the facilitation of their meditation practices, or Samadhi, and a hope to attain Nibbana (Nirvana) within a few human life-spans. Lay follows of regular monks understand the Paramis but may not actually understand the significance of why they are important as most Thai Buddhist I personally know don't meditate, my wife included. Lay followers of the Theravada Kammathana Forest Tradition tend to be meditation practitioners and understand that the Paramis eventually sets the conditions that lead to the outcome of the attainment of Nibbana. So - why are Thais so obsessed with Buddhism? Because historically, this is a Buddhist country. Asia in general, from Western to Central to Southeast to East Asia has a very rich, historically significant religious culture that predates Christianity. It is what it is. I don't proselytize, but you did ask. I'd suggested simply reading about the history of Buddhism. It might answer some of your nagging questions and confusion. Or? It may even confuse you more. Hard to tell actually. Best of luck. The 10 Perfections of Buddhism - The 10 Paramis. Generosity (dana) Virtue (sila) Renunciation (nekkhamma) Wisdom (pañña) Energy (viriya) Patience (khanti) Truthfulness (sacca) Determination (aditthana) Lovingkindness (metta) Equanimity (upekkha)

Sure they do! https://www.lazada.co.th/products/black-8-magic-i3703090650-s14014371689.html

What I want to know is why you people are so compulsively infatuated with the taxation which is yet to be clearly articulated and placed into law by the Thai government. Chill out and wait. The average expat over 65 probably isn't going to be affected other than perhaps being forced to go file a tax return and claw back all the withholding taken out of your bank account interest. And maybe not even that. My suggestion is to simply chill and wait to see what 2025 brings. Then worry about it if you need to and plan accordingly.

"But but but - hydrogen is "clean energy." More energy is expended to create hydrogen that what you get out of it. Here - just erase "Electric" and replace it with "Hydrogen."

Wet? Yep!

For all of that money I could buy four of these new at today's price. As far as comforters go? My wife gives them to the lady next door to wash. We air them out weekly, wash them every three months or when they actually show dirt stains - whichever comes first. I think this one needed a belt replaced once, but so long ago I can barely remember. It just keeps running and running and running! 😕 Farang: "But I need Brand Names!" I gave than nonsense up with I left the US and traded in the Farang-model wife for a Thai-model that actually does house work. Much happier with cheaper models of everything which are more reliable and don't break-down.

Buy one of these. This is about 15 years old and cost maybe 1500 THB. They run forever. "Oh my - it's dirty. "Man, it's 15 years old and lives outside: of course it's dirty (actually it's not 'dirty,' it's stained). But clean as a whistle inside. That's what counts. Takes a lickin' keeps on tickin'.

The young lady is waiting to receive her Darwin Award!

Thaksin isn't "dead" and he want's his watches back?

Did you notice how after 2008 the banks stopped paying interests on bank accounts at the same time as they charged usurious rates for unsecured loans. Usury is still alive and well in the banking sector and allow by most governments. Banks should be allowed to go bankrupt.