connda

It's a hybrid. Ok. And probably a very expensive hybrid. I drive a Suzuki with a regular ICE engine which gets 50+ miles per gallon. The car is very affordable and the fuel and maintenance is highly affordable. I don't see how spending 2 or 3 million THB on a car to get "affordable fuel efficiency" makes any sense at all.

This is new at iHerb. They are collecting VAT/Duties upfront. Well, I placed an order and we'll test that theory and see if I'm levied any additional VAT when the package arrives. If I do that will be the end of 10 years of ordering from iHerb. If it works? Well cool. I played around with different order sizes and checkout amounts and the VAT/Duties/Handling "tax" is between 12% to 15% of the value of the order. The only way this is now affordable is to purchase over $40 in order to get free shipping. I have used iHerb because it is affordable. It it becomes no more affordable then buying from Lazada or online in Thailand - well, that will just suck but I'll have to switch to buying locally. Freaking governments and their freaking taxes aimed directly at the lower and middle class. From iHerb regarding the new tax: Like I said - "We'll see."

Read my original post - it's also an alternative medication that can be used to relax the urinary system so you can pee if you have prostate issues. Trust me - I have no problems with ED and I really don't want to be walking around with a woody. So I have no interest in this medication with the exception of getting off alpha-blockers long enough to get my eyes fixed. The switch will only be long enough to meet the two weeks off of alpha-blockers prior to surgery and then I'll go back on them as they are effective for me personally.

I'll be honest. I think sick people, especially those with coughs and sneezing, should wear masks. Under those conditions I wear a mask too - to protect others for the water droplets that are exhaled and contain pathogens. And honestly it ticks me off when sick people who are snottering and coughing don't wear one. With that said, outside of being sick myself, I refused to wear masks because as noted by Rob Browder, if you understand the size of viruses as compared to the filtration capability of the cloth and paper masks used by most people? It's like "using a chain-link fence to stop gnats." Then let's not even talk about the gaping holes around the edges of the cloth and paper masks 97% of the people wear. Imho - they make people "feel" safe but imho it is a false sense of security. FYI - I didn't contract Covid until my wife contracted it, and then it was impossible to get away from the viral load in the house and car. So I came down with Covid in August 2023 and spent 4 days with a mild Covid "flu." No shots so I enjoy - and trust - my body's natural immunity. But I never wore masks. And I still refuse to wear a mask because I see the fear of respiratory pathogens to be irrational and bordering on being a phobia. Respiratory pathogens aren't any different before 2020 then they were after 2020. And I never wore a mask before 2020. Don't see a reason to wear one now - unless I myself am ill, then again - I do it to protect others. Regarding RAM? My guess is that employees are required to wear masks by RAM's management. I know my own doctor there has been wearing a mask since post 2020. She always wears one. That's fine. But honestly folk - if you are really, really worried about filtering out airborne pathogens? Then at least wear a mask that works, i.e., one like a 3M P100 which has a close fitting face-piece and filters 100% of PM2 which is sorta virus size (psst - but viruses are still smaller). I carry the mask in the car in the off-chance that the only way I can see a doctor or dentist is by wearing a mask. Then I used a P100. If you're going to pretend that everywhere in the world is now a bio-hazard risk, then at least wear the equipment to fits the narrative, imho.

Stock tip for ya'll out there. The Straits of Hormuz are going to close when this war begins. Buy oil and gas stocks. Be like the wealthy. Make money from war.

Israeli foreign minister says approaching 'moment of an all-out war' against Hezbollah -Rueters Good - bring it. It's past time to get to the end of this conflict and it's only going to end in a military defeat. Let the games begin!

Yep.

I'll believe Harris is the DNC Presidential nominee on August 22nd 2024. Until then? Put "prospective" in front of any phase describing Harris as the Democrat "nominee" Prospective Democrat Nominee / Prospective Democrat Candidate There - fixed it! She can scare hyenas with her laugh.

High hopes: Anutin’s green light for cannabis bill in Thailand "PM Srettha instructed the MoPH on May 8 to amend regulations to allow cannabis to be reclassified as a narcotic drug, while still permitting its use strictly for medical and health promotion purposes." Translated: Anutin is going to protect the interests of wealthy individuals and corporate stakeholders who invested heavily in the cannabis business while throwing all of the small and medium business who invested in setting up retail cannabis businesses under the bus. It's the same model used during the Covid "pandemic": Essential Businesses (allowed to remain open): Large corporate stakeholders and businesses run by wealthy and connected Thais. Non-Essential Businesses (forced to close): Average Thai commoners "The rich get richer and the poor get poorer In the meantime, in-bеtween time, ain't we got fun." Well - fun for the Thai wealthy to crush the lower and middle classes and laugh! 😁 "Ha ha ha ha ha - sucks to be you, commoners!"

If I was going to have a large dog around it would be a German Shepard. Intelligence, loyal, highly trainable, and less likely to go into an uncontrolled killing rage. Just saying.

American Bully Dogs? Do they have US Passports? 😁

It's funny. Back in the day in the US I knew the kids of some really wealthy people including my girlfriend's father. It's amazing how many of them had serious drug addictions.

Hunter - you moron! Just fold your defense and take the criminal judgement. Daddy will pardon you and at worst you'll spend less time in jail than Khun Tony, and given 10-Percent-For-The-Big-Guy's political pull, your accommodations for the short time you're serving time will probably be better than Khun (I'm On My Deathbed) Tony's stay in a hospital penthouse. Plead guilty and wait for Big Daddy's pardon. You've got nothing to worry about.

I read that a lot of factories are closing, but then that doesn't explain what I'm seeing with my eyes here in Northern Thailand. Here just outside of Mueang Lamphun in the industrial zone there are a number of brand new factories that have just been built. I need to poke around and find out who has built those new factories and what they are going to manufacture. But my eyes are seeing facts-on-the-ground they belie the narrative that Thailand's industrial base is about to fold. I'll check that out.....

That's happening in response to Thailand imposing a minimum wage law. Western factories are closing and moving to where labor is cheaper. With the exception of China which is filling the vacuum that is being left by the West. Sorta what you're seeing is the difference between Western capitalism which seeks to exploit labor and resources of its host country to maximize short-term profits. The CPC model is building inter-connectivity and infrastructure, establishing solid manufacturing bases for long-term productivity and growth. I'd say that Thailand needs to be patient and begin to really work on establishing itself as a member of the BRICS economic alliance. As was the theme is A Field Of Dreams: Build it and they will come. Build those interrelationships with the countries which represent the "Other 7 Billion People Living Outside The West," establish economic and trade relationships, work more intensively with Thailand's nearest neighbors, specifically China, and plan for long-term growth in manufacturing, industry, and the economic well-being of Thailand's citizens. And to get there they are going to need to stop hamstringing their energy needs with the "Green Agenda 2030." Growth requires ample energy reserves from hydrocarbon-based fuels, and should include "green energy" but not as the primary energy source. What the Greenies miss is what is coming, probably within the next 30 to 40 years, and probably before 2050, and that is Commercial Fusion Energy. Then the entire energy playing field changes. And guess who is one of the most advanced countries when in comes to Fusion Technology? China. Stay tuned..........

Looking for feedback from members with US Charles Schwab Accounts including their checking/debit card accounts. I currently have a brokerage account after Charles Schwab took over TDAmeritrade. I'm looking for feedback regarding those who have US Charles Schwab accounts regarding the ease or difficultly of accessing accounts while living here in Thailand. What has been your experience. I'm considering setting up a checking account as my primary checking/debit account but like some feedback about other's experience with Charles Schwab.

Trump campaign says it won’t commit to Harris debate until she’s confirmed as nominee -CNN The Democrat Convention is Aug 19 - 22. Harris is not officially nominated. I have no doubt that Trump will debate whomever wins the nomination at the DNC Convention. The Leftist Commies and Maxists have their cart before their horse. Trump IS the RNC nominee. The DNC doesn't have an official nominee until the Convention is convened. Harris is the prospective nominee but that could change by this time next month. :

Political cartoon compliments of Bob Moran

Trump is a weak, old man who is cognitively impaired, doesn't know where he is most of the time, and can't talk without a teleprompter, and routinely poops his pants in public, and lies. Oh wait - that's Biden...never mind.

You speak Thai and locals understand what you say.

Wow the OP sees Fascists behind every tree. Doesn't know what a Fascist really is, but in his mind MAGA = Fascist because the term "fascist" is a bad, bad word. Don't doze off there Op or Freddy Fascist will get 'cha in your sleep. 👈 MAGA colours!!! Eek!

Looks as though it's going the way of Kad Suan Kaew and the Promenade. And like others have stated, inflation is beginning to take a toll. Wait until the Thai government hands out 10K per adult and then watch inflation choke the hell out of the poor and middle-classes. More malls will go bust as a result.

By next week there will be articles posted about how poor tourism is this year.

It doesn't matter. Some people get to post any kind of excrement that they what without sources. Other people are required to attribute everything they state with sources and citations. This guy is in the former group.

The original idea in the West was to "bleed" Russia with sanctions and endless war. All it has accomplished has been to make Russia self-reliant, push Russia, China, and the DPRK together, strengthen Russia's military arms manufacturing base placing them on a war footing, while destroying Ukraine's infrastructure including electric generation and putting them into the type of IMF debt-trap from which they will never extract themselves, destroyed the German industrial base by blowing up the Nord-Stream pipeline, and bleeding Europe with now expensive energy from the US, and expensive products to replace cheaper Russian products under sanctions, and then kill more the the EU's industrial base with secondary sanctions aimed at Russian but which simply blow-back on Europe. All the while the US transfers tax-payers money and shovels it into the gaping maw of the Military Industrial Complex. Everyone looses but big arms manufacturers in the US. Meanwhile the West collectively hemorrhages money due to inflation while Western growth stagnates. Conversely the Ruble strengthens against the USD and Brit Pound, and Russia is on course for around 4.5% economic growth in 2025. So much for "bleeding Russia." In the meanwhile the Russian military is battle hardened. NATO does a lot of sabre rattling, but the militaries of the EU and US have never fought a combined arms conflict against a peer adversary. All NATO has done is bombed the hell out of civilians while NATO ground troops lose wars to guys in sandals with AK-47s. Yeah yeah - Americans has the finest military in the world yada yada yada. Ok - put them on the ground in Eastern Ukraine and test that hypothesis. The US hasn't fought a peer adversary since WWII. And personally I don't believe they can - for no other reason than they don't have the logistics or industrial base to support a major war, which is why a US-led fight with Russian or China will end up in a humanity ended nuclear war - which surprisingly and lot of war-mongering Westerners seem to want. Go for it: Poke the Bear, poke the Dragon...see what happens. What the hell, I'm too old to care. My kid's dead so I'm good to go anytime.