connda

Dream on. They lost that power when they lost the House and Senate.

The problem with the main-stream media is that they fabricate stories that aren't true. Their coverage often is libelous and defamatory. The new game at The View is for one of the hens to squawk some utter nonsense and then within a matter of minutes being told by their own legal departments that they need to make an immediate on-air retraction. Talking about Fascism, the last administration almost was able to create a department which would have essentially made regulations regarding what is, quote, "disinformation," "misinformation," and "malinformation," as well as having the power to censor that speak. But they also were able to declare which purveyors of journalism where "trusted news sources" and which were not, therefore directly censoring speech. It didn't work. However, those main-stream networks had been declared as "the only 'trusted news'" and many social media platforms still base their own censorship on those definitions. On the flip side, many have read the writing on the wall and have suddenly changed their tune, e.g., Meta. But - those same MSM "trusted news networks" keep getting caught fabricating stories, and engaging in libel and defamation - and the POTUS has just pointed Pam Bondi and the DOJ at them. Not for being purveyors of "free speech" but for being purveyors of libel, defamation, and fabrications which have no basis in fact and are at times illegal by present day law. The POTUS requested the DOJ to investigate if laws have been broken by the MSM and to hold them to account if they have. Also, I'm the first to agree that Lawfare is the bastion of Fascism, but it was the Left who opened the Lawfare genie's bottle and let him loose in an attempt to use the legal system to stop a DJT presidency, and the MSM was right there cheering them on and adding hyperbole to the mix. Now that the shoe is on the other foot - well, they should have never let the Lawfare genie out of the bottle. Too late now. As the old saying goes, "Be careful what you wish for." "We're gonna get DJT." Opps! Now many DJT is gonna get you. 🤔

I'm not into hero worship. They have their own lives. They don't need me interrupting theirs.

Sometimes reality if reads better than fiction. How funny! Minnesota Senate Republicans introduce Bill that would classify 'Trump Derangement Syndrome' as a mental disorder. https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF2589&version=latest&session_year=2025&session_number=0

Well stated!

Some people think it is, some people think it isn't. I guess it depends who you are. Only your friend can answer that question. But here are some recent views...

As there will always be racist Thais in Thailand. Same same, no difference.

Exactly. A Thai threatens you with a machete or gun and "The System" here would prefer that it ends in an apology by the Thai and mutual wais and agreements that it all was a misunderstanding. When the shoe is on the other foot and public demands maximum enforcement to the fullest extent of the law against the foreigner. Not condoning such behavior by either party. Hypocritical, but? There it is.

I prefer Cha-Am. Been to both. Hua Hin was mediocre at at best.

I think you would personally benefit by limiting your stay in Thailand to 2 visits a year. Chase p*ssy, drink yourself into oblivion, then go back to work in AU. Wash, rinse, repeat ad-infinitum until your punch your final time card and check out and take employ with "Big Daddy In The SkyTM" or "Big Daddy BelowTM" or disappear in the nihilistic ethers of nothingness and the eternal end of angst.

Sure it is. Magnitudes cheaper. You just brought your Western 'wants and desires baggage' with you as you attempt to replicate 'The Western LifeTM' here in the LOS. So of course, you don't live like a Thai and enjoy the lightness of being associated with living off the Thai economy without trying to keep up with the Shinawatras or the Jones back home. Read my previous post - it is dirt cheap here, well, unless you make it expensive. You-make-it-expensive! Stop! You'll begin to enjoy yourself more. You'll never find happiness in p*ssy and beer. It's fun, don't get me wrong, I've had my fun. But "retirement" also means accepting a life in the slower lane of life, or just parking the da*m car on the side of the road and enjoying the flowers and scenery (metaphorically), as you stop the endless chasing after "More and BetterTM." Happiness comes with acceptance and contentment. You've neither accepted life on its own terms (mortality - marana) nor attained acceptance of things as they are (change - anicca). But hell, go back to the grind of working in the AU. It will take your mind off of your condition and your "Western Expat AngstTM"until such time as you are laying in your death-bed and reflecting on your life. Did all that work satisfy you? Did you get your fill of p*ssy and drink your fill of beer as you flirt with the Great Beyond. <sigh> Best of luck dear man. Chok Dee!

My primary expense in the way of food whether its a trip to Dukes in CM or an occasional splurge to eat "Western", or to go to Big C and Makro and Rim Ping. But those are the "big ticket" items and I've noticed since 2020 that my usual trip to Big C / Makro for food has gone from about 2000 THB to 3000 THB. So much for inflation. Other than that, everything else is bought in markets which are cheap beyond belief when compared to the West, or eating at Thai restaurants - same same - inexpensive, or just taking what the garden offers for free. My outlay for land and housing was 15 years ago. Out of savings. Done. Two houses and a rai of land. No debt. No monthly payments. Car - out of savings. No debt. No monthly payments. Drinking and chasing bar girls? Been there, done that - it's lost it's luster. In my 70s and it doesn't have the appeal it did in my younger days. Fond memories and I'm good. Bored? I'm not bored. I stay occupied with family, home, garden, bass guitar, reading, meditation, etc. Life if good as I count-down and prepare for the extra-celestial parting from this body which is wearing down. No desire to go back to the "home country." And no particular desire to live in Thai expat communities (never have, always have lived with working Thais in Thai communities) or to be buddy-buddies with other farang. As I said - life is good. I don't suffer from Western Expat Angst. Honestly - you think too much. Take up meditation and a hobby, and considering marrying a Thai gal. You'll feel better.

Exactly. Just like USAID. Never said that the Phoenix can't rise out of the ashes. I'm sure it can in a much leaner, fiscally targeted manner.

You seem to be infected with a work mind virus. You should have that checked out. Listening to Alex Jones and Fox News may cure you if it's caught early enough. But given your posts <sucks air between teeth> it may be too late.

Exactly. Currently as well as in the past the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) screens all potential legal migrants for infectious diseases. What's your point? So 1/4 of the world's population has antibodies. My paternal grandmother died of TB. My father popped positive the rest of his life. Never had TB. So yeah - pop positive for TB and get an X-ray and an assessment if you are from a country with a high incident of TB. Just like countries who require Yellow Fever vaccinations from people traveling for areas with endemic Yellow Fever. At this point the USCIS waives requirements like that for air travelers. If a person enters the US from a country with edemic cases of infectious diseases, they can detain and require testing or reject entry if that person is symptomatic.

Gates could fund PEPFAR out of his own pocket.

Now regarding tuberculosis. Closing the border and stopping illegal immigration offsets your concerns as infection primarily come from outside the United States. Unscreened, illegal aliens are a much more virulent TB vector of the disease than domestic cases. Primary infections have to come from somewhere and they don't fall out of the sky. Rank ordered incidence rates of TB in Central and South America. Other countries where illegal immigrants come from like Africa and other third-world countries have similar incident rates although the top five countries with the highest incident rates are on the African continent. Incident Rates of TB per 100,000 population (Sources US (CDC), Central / South America (WHO)) https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/73/wr/mm7312a4.htm https://www.who.int/teams/global-tuberculosis-programme/tb-reports/global-tuberculosis-report-2023 Five countries with highest TB incident rates (based on the WHO sources) Now to your point about PEPFAR. Total committed funds amount to $100 billion dollars since inception. How about taking the $100 billion USD and applying it to domestic healthcare and the welfare of citizens of the US. Closing the borders and screening potential immigrants for TB and HIV will take care of the rest. If Musk's DOGE is aimed at PEPFAR, you'd probably find out that a fraction of that funding actually makes it to the target population and the rest is siphoned off to support the largess of the NGOs and their staff and CEOs. Then reassess PEPFAR, reorganize it, streamline it, cut out the overhead, cut out the waste/fraud/abuse and then reconsider funding. Also research alternative sources of support - like the EU and other "rich" countries.

The World’s Deadliest Infectious Disease Is About to Get Worse Woke mind virus. Deadly and getting more infectious.

There are a lot of different SSRIs available OTC in Thailand. Seroxat is Paxil. It's generic is "Paroxetine." Go to a pharmacy and ask for generic Paroxetine. ฿2500 is a totally overblow price for SSRIs. As you stated you don't wish to consult a doctor (I'd highly recommend to consult a doctor or psychiatrist given your current state), here is an AI breakdown comparing the actions of similar SSRIs. Fluoxetine (Prozac) is handed out like candy at government hospital. Go back to a decent sized Thai pharmacy and ask for the generics. You should be able to pick up effective SSRIs for a fraction of the price. Best of luck. Caveat: I'm not a doctor and this isn't medical advice. Comparison and Ranking Based on available research, the SSRIs most similar to Paroxetine in terms of effects, particularly side effects like insomnia, weight gain, and sexual dysfunction, are ranked as follows: Sertraline (Zoloft): Likely the most similar, with high rates of insomnia (10-15%) and sexual dysfunction (10-20%), though slightly lower weight gain (5-10%) compared to Paroxetine’s 10-15%. Fluvoxamine (Luvox): Similar in some aspects, with higher gastrointestinal side effects (nausea 20-30%, diarrhea 15-20%) and moderate sexual dysfunction, but less insomnia. Fluoxetine (Prozac): Shares similar nausea (10-20%) and sexual dysfunction rates, but has lower insomnia (5-10%) and weight gain (5-10%). Citalopram (Celexa): Generally has lower side effect rates, making it less similar, with rates like weight gain at 5-10% compared to Paroxetine’s higher 10-15%. Escitalopram (Lexapro): Similar to Citalopram, with lower overall side effects, especially sexual dysfunction, at around 30-40% compared to Paroxetine’s higher rates. Vilazodone (Viibryd): Appears least similar, with lower reported sexual side effects, making it less comparable to Paroxetine’s profile.

Personally, I can't say I really "hate" people. Even the guy that killed my daughter. Even there I can't dredge up "hatred." But? I do ignore people who are generally unhealthy to be around due to their world-views. And many of those people are themselves consumed by hatred. Which is a good lesson to learn in life - don't emulate them. Will I challenge others for their views? Yeah. That's probably one of my own faults. I should probably let things go more often. But "hate." No - there is no benefit to it. What do I feel for people who hate? Compassionate pity. And the guy who killed my daughter? Nothing. Emptiness.

Now they can buy SU-57s. Why waste money on F35s?

That is my experience as well.

Not the sharpest tacks in the box.

Given that it's legal or decriminalized in so many Western countries, I've sorta perplexed at "Why traffic bud from Thailand?"

You mean like Germans and loud, brash, overly-assertive Americans?