connda

Which just goes to show that the US presidency is simply available to the highest bidder and just as corrupted as any banana-republic.

Another step toward realising the globalist dream of a cashless society in which governments will totally control the money supply.

How can making money transfers and getting your ssi fund cut production costs for farmers? The 2 don't seem related

A good question and I have my suspicions that it's more about tracking payments and who gets what / how much.

They are just trying to decide which color lipstick to put on the 'cashless society' pig.

A few years ago I want to the YMCA here in Chiang Mai to learn Thai. There were 6 of us in a "special class". All over 50, and with their "best" teacher. Not a day went past when we didn't have to look at each other in total confusion and whisper: "What did she say?" Her English was so atrocious that we could barely understand her 75% of the time. We all passed, somehow, and all vowed never to return.

Their 'rote leaning' method works, maybe, until about level 3 and then totally breaks down. I quit at level 5 because I was totally bored although I didn't necessarily have any problems understanding the Thai, and I was transcribing the transliterations to written Thai 'on-the-fly' because I couldn't wrap my head around yet another transliteration scheme, especially considering I already read Thai, although slowly. At the end of the day, I can only take so much of point to the words or sentences on the board and repeat, repeat, repeat..... I don't teach that way, and for a reason: It's ineffective. And yet the 'rote method' of teaching seems to be ingrained in this culture.

So, if the OP expects all farang to learn Thai which is a difficult language to learn, then I'd say that we at least should have the expectations of being offered quality teaching programs that utilize modern teaching methodologies. But the three language schools that I've used in the last 8 years all eventual broke-down to a form of 'rote training' which is simply mind-numbing. Well, imho.

There is a huge difference between 'settling' in Britain, and living year-to-year on a non-immigrant visa here in the Land of Smiles. A migrant who 'settles' in Britain becomes a quasi-citizen and enjoys the benefits of their social welfare/health system in the country; we non-immigrate visa holders in Thailand enjoy no such privileges nor an easily accessible path to permanent residence or citizenry. However, if there was an easily accessible path to permanent residence or citizenry, then I'd be happy to learn Thai to a degree of fluency needed to call Thailand 'home'. The key words are easily accessible. The laws are set up to discourage farangs wishing to to do so, and as such, I don't feel any burning need to 'integrate' and learn Thai beyond what I need to take care of day-to-day affairs. That 'integration' is a two-way street, and the in-bound lane is strewn with intentional road-blocks that are pretty much insurmountable for the average farang who may wish to truly call Thailand 'home'.

That would make me a happy camper. Only 30 km to the Northwest. Wife and I pass there anytime we travel to Chiang Mai, or go shopping at Big-C or the markets in Lamphun Meuang district. I'll stop by and check it out the next trip we make.

Looked at True, but can't seem to find a simple list of channels for their various packages, NOR price per package - which is also important.

Look here:

http://truevisionsgroup.truecorp.co.th/packages?ln=en

Hummm. I missed the Oscars? Thank God.

Deciphering the Syrian 'War' in one easy picture:

I had all the local book stores scoped out my first week in Chiang Mai. Try the Chiang Mai University library if you get bored. It's free if you have a piece of ID to leave at the desk. Also, if you have transport, check out xyzfivestarbooks on the Ring Road west of Central Festival.

Then go back to your watering hole, enjoy a cool, frosty bottle of you favorite brew, and do something less mind-numbing the watching the 'boob-tube' or staring at a smart-phone which is dumbing down the populace of the world. I'd rather read a physical book (hardbound or paperback) any day of the week over reading it electronically.

Wonder if there is a problem with your water? Lotta minerals throwing the pH off. Also, I agree with being careful to not overwater.

Any idea of the nominal pH level for the water. I have the ability to test it.

It could be several reasons, I see too many shops here set there seed display out in full sun... which is not good.... that will cause poor or no germination.

Neversures answer about soil, is good, it looks heavy and should be finer and well drained, which sometimes means mixing with sharp sand.

Drain Holes at the bottom should allow water to pass through freely, sitting seed tray on the ground, may prevent that. Avoid over watering.

Shade trays if in full sun until seed is germinated, then allow seedlings to get hardened off to sunnier conditions.

The soil mixture has some larger, straw-like organic matter in it, and in the picture it looks heavy because I had just watered it. But point taken. I think I'll pick up a different commercial soil while in Chiang Mai and some sand locally. The native soil in my garden is very clay-like and could probably use some sand and organic matter mixed into the beds. I'll try 'round three' of planting this coming week using a different soil mixture, new seeds, and will get the seed trays off the ground and out of direct sun until the sprouts break out.

Too bad the commercial seeds don't grow like the weeds which just flourish in our soil.

I'm stumped. I've planted seeds twice in the last five weeks. I've used a combination of seed trays, small cups, or just planting in the ground. And I've planted in commercial soil and in the native soil in the garden. I've bought the seeds from two different sources and I'm well within the expiration dates of the seeds. My sweet corn, snow peas, bitter gourd, green peppers, simply did not sprout. I can dig the seeds out, and nada, nothing.

Here's examples of seeds planted in cups and a 100 pod seed tray. Out of the pods that I planted seeds in only one plant sprouted. My success in cups and plastic bags was significantly better, example cukes and tomatoes I planted in seed trays never sprouted. Planted in plastic bags or cups, they did. See picture.

My corn, green peppers, snow peas, cilantro, and bitter gourd would not spout regardless of how I planted them.

I'm getting a late start here considering that I'm fighting to get seedlings instead of concentrating on growing the plants. I think the weeds that grow with ease are mocking the commercial seeds.

I'm open for suggestions.

hysterical.

Circuses and pageantry for the masses.

The Pot calls the Kettle black.

Like people should trust a man who has sex with pigs, although he'd argue that to be an 'untruth' too.

So someone who enters a country illegally with no documentation is "breaking the law", but can't be arrested or incarcerated for it ... those countries instead have to play nice, give them a deportation order, and only if they then refuse to leave, can arrest and incarcerate them?

And you wonder why people want to leave the EU ...

It is exactly the same in the US now. It would be easier for my to bring my wife to the country illegally. Really! How immensely sad. But, I don't live there any longer and I've no plans to return.

Another reason I no longer live in the West where government officals simply ignore the law and nothing happens.

I may complain about the immigration policies, but Thailand policies are in place to protect the country's interests. I'd rather live in a country that protects it's national interests. Those of us here legally are protected by those same law. I could imagine the lawlessness if Thailand threw open it's borders and allow any and all illegal immigrates to flood the country.

Nope. I like it just that way it is. Highly nationalistic. And I hope it stays that way.

Some people would line up for the opening of a phone booth.

Humm. Anyone have close ties to the various Sesamin franchise that abound here? $65 for ground up black sesame seeds sold here in The Land of Smiles.

Buy black sesame seeds, grind them up, eat with meals, Bob's Your Uncle. Or buy the multi-level marketing stuff for $65 and change. It's your money.

I wouldn't give up my Gambols for a pair of <ugg> crocs.

Get back to us after you publish you thesis. And Americans are individualist. Lmao. Bahhhhhhh. bahhhhh.

<--- Average American

No, it's not.

Which is why I yawn when I hear that some Thailand college student has been tossed in jail and charged under sexual indecency laws in the US for taking pictures in a men's bathroom.

Each country has it's own stupid laws that unnecessarily ruin the life's of otherwise honest people from other nations.

But Quid Pro Quo. You send one back; we send one back.

Who? Mr. French from the TV series. Mr. French Toast. Never heard of the dude. Good riddance. Bye. Don't let the door hit you in the butt.