GinBoy2

Don't even need google every school kid knows its Rhode Island

This a big one. Being a Californian I've lived through my fair share of quakes. Loma Prieta was a 6.9, but lasted a long time, I was at the time living the in North Bay, and actually was driving on the lower deck of I880 literally 30 minutes before the bridge collapsed, that was a bullet dodged Northridge 6.8 i was on I5 driving to a meeting in Long Beach. I got half way there before I heard on the radio the bridge had collapsed My scariest was when I was in Tokyo for the grand opening of my company's new office. I was on the 25th floor when the Fukushima quake hit when all Hell broke loose, it was 9.0. Tables, chairs started rolling around the office seemed to on for ever. Tribute to Japanese engineering nothing collapsed, and all through it I was messaging my boss in San Diego, power, internet nothing went down A 7+ earthquake anywhere in SE Asia (exclude Singapore they don't count), given we all are pretty savvy about construction methods and adherence to any building codes is always going to be deadly

I've always called them pigtails. But I would have to say no female over the age of twelve should have them Cute on little girls, both my daughters had them, on women, hmm questionable!

So, I think to tidy up this thread, I would suggest everybody read this book. It's a fascinating read, great background to the English language and it's evolution https://www.amazon.com/Professor-Madman-Insanity-English-Dictionary/dp/0060836261

This is kinda the reality of today. When I was a kid during the summer vacation my Mom told me after breakfast to go out and 'play' and come back for dinner. She had no idea where I was yet somehow I managed a fun childhood and that freedom taught me a whole lot about how to be a grown up man Now on the flip side of this, back in the day of course there was abuse that went unsaid. Uncle xxxx with wandering hands was to be avoided, but unfortunately he was 'tolerated' Thankfully those days are gone. But maybe the pendulum swung a bit too far? An older man swimming in a pool alongside kids is in general no threat to anyone. Although you can sorta see the Scottish lady's mindset given the reputation for Thailand, and SE Asia in general for child abuse. Western media hasn't been shy about exposing the likes of Gary Glitter

Thats not exactly true Dr Murray who created the Oxford English Dictionary through an act of brilliance employing thousands of people to provide definitions and spellings, including huge amounts from William Minor, the American madman I forget the exact quote, but it was the spelling of a dental tool, and Murray deferred to the American spelling saying, " I'll use the spelling from someone who actually uses the tool"

Not exactly true. Until the standardization of British English spelling was all over the map. Shakespeare routinely switched between Honor and Honour, with some of his plays using a mish mash of both https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2014/12/shakespeares-honor/

Neither is right or wrong, or for that matter the myriad of versions of English. The beauty of the language is that it seems to evolved across the world with variants, which we all seem be to be able to understand. I speak American Spanish, it's different than my family in Mexico, and it's a far cry from Spanish Spanish. I ain't got the snooty lisp! But again we all can understand each other. English, and Spanish in all their quirks and regional variations have created great literature and art. So one is never better or worse, all just part of the family ....and it keeps evolving!

So the 'average' Thai is a question. My wife is smarter than me, she has a Masters, from a US University, I don't. I think I have more common sense than she does, she thinks, as she often says I'm an "Idiot Man' Am I smarter that the village residents, Oh Yeah, but that is just a function of the fact I had a real education rather than whatever it is they call education in Thai schools

I'm with you on the shirtless thing. You're not at the beach, just put on a damn shirt. You're right it's not just farangs, but nobody in a Western city thinks it's OK to walk around shirtless, often displaying a less than adonis like body. Yet they land in BKK and off comes the shirt, flab and all!

Well in the nightlife world that was never my thing, Good dinner, nice hotel and back to BKK or DMK the next morning. But each to their own and I'm sure there are some alternate 'attractions' in the nighttime hours for those inclined for something more than dinner and a few drinks

Well, you're right maybe I exaggerated Restaurants are Bangkok's saving grace, before getting on the plane and getting the Hell outta there.

I agree with this. My last eye exam last month basically said that I have early stage cataracts, but that has been the same for the past several years. My eye doctor says nothing unusual for my age and until it gets problematic for my vision, she looks forward to seeing me next year

I've never lived in BKK, but owned rental condo's there Hated every minute I spent there. Traffic, pollution, and lets let not mention the shi'''''t in the klongs I just don't like the place If I wanted big city stuff, NYC or LA or basically anywhere in the West would be a better option

Maybe I lost the plot. There are 9 of them, one is a woman, one is the suspect, so seven able bodied men aren't able to in some way restrain and control the suspect? I'm assuming this isn't some mass murderer psycho who is going to kill everyone in their sleep, but some guy thats gone a little bat sh***t crazy down there

It's a hard watch, but totally get why it's #1 on Netflix right now

Then you've had some pretty <deleted>ty internet providers. Starlink $90/month for a 220MB download speed, with terrible pings I pay $78/month for a rock solid 1Gig from Bluepeak and pings under 10

I never said you didn't have to pay for it, but it's invisible, giving the illusion of 'free' and thats what deludes folks when they travel overseas. A lot of us in some way shape or form write a check, or have some debit to our account every month just for health insurance I think that's the bit a lot of, especially young Brits in Thailand fail to recognize. This stuff ain't free

I kinda agree with that. The embassy isn't there to bribe your way out of whatever crime you've committed, advice maybe. Also there seems to be a misconception, primarily with the Brits, when some health emergency happens the embassy will get you home. Maybe it's because at home you believe everything is free, for a lot of us we're used to paying for health insurance at home or overseas

This is how delusional some guys are. I will never look at a Western woman again, she wants me sooooo much

Never quite got what I think is a fake obsession with Western vs Thai women. We all have 'likes', why do some white women want black men for example. My first marriage failed for no other reason that I was always on the road for work, and we just drifted apart. My second marriage to my Thai wife started when we were both working at the same company in Singapore She had grown up in the US so culturally we were the same, but I won't deny deny I liked the asian part. But here we are decades later, both my wife and ex get on and I love them both, and they are both mature women late 50's early 60's and I find them both super sexy women. I wouldn't want a woman young enough to be my daughter, thats too creepy and lets not beat around the bush, that's based on money. Both of my wives are pretty similar, feisty professional women, not afraid to speak their mind, and nothing pleases them more when they are together to bitch about me! ....my Thai wife is a better cook however

It's a case of pluses and minuses. Our house in Thailand is without doubt better than our house in the US, although build quality and longevity might be questionable. Health care, well my US healthcare is pretty comprehensive, whereas my Thai insurance after becoming ridiculously expensive dropped me. I 'could rely on Government hospitals, but outside BKK go in to one them, you basically come out in a box, so I'll stick with my US hospital Food is way cheaper in Thailand and is a real plus Utilities, electricity are about the same, although my electric doesn't go off at the first clap of thunder as it does in Thailand My internet little more expensive than I pay in Thailand, but a heck more reliable for slightly better service Hmm and VPN, yeah you need that in Thailand because God forbid you utter anything that could get you in 112 trouble! I'll tolerate the nonsense on Fox News not to have to worry about that!

Well probably a large percentage of AN have eye degeneration and go to an eye doc. Doctors normally quote astigmatism in diopters not percentage, so I'm not sure what 100% astigmatism even means. That would be a warning bell for me Astigmatism is always correctable, but just check you're not being 'over sold'

I've used Skype almost since it started. But things moved on, a little like phone calls in general. Folks don't call they either Facetime or Facebook messenger for totally free video calls, and kids never talk only text on whatever platform Over the years the banks have got pretty good at detecting VOIP calls so that little niche has also dwindled. As lamentable as it is, it looks like Skype has gone the same way as the rotary dial landline. RIP

The guy has been out of the UK for at least 25 years, so I guess he hasn't paid in to anything. Wonder what the future holds for him when he lands in LHR? Hopefully he still has some family, not estranged, that will take him in while he tries to pick up the train wreak of his life. I'll let the Brits beat out the asylum benefits thing between themselves. But for this guy, and who knows how old he is, tough times; immigration detention then off to a country he hasn't lived in for 25 years