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Emster23

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Posts posted by Emster23

  1. I am American and have never owned a gun. Thailand has 3 times as many gun deaths as USA but only 1/5 the population. Many Americans may love guns, but that does not equal using it to settle petty arguments, as seems to be the case in Thailand. "Americans are required to own firearms by law--its actually in the Constitution or the Bill of Rights or something." Do a little research before shooting self in foot.

    I agree gun deaths are too high in USA, and too easy to get guns that are more for assault than defence. Like driving, knowledge of how to use properly, enforcement of laws, and licensing are ignored in Thailand.

    Comparing USA with other developed nations says nothing about original question. The old west as protrayed in movies isn't like it was. Many of those guys fought in civil war. If a gunslinger came into town and tried to take over, they would simply shoot him in the back and be rid of him like a rabid dog.

  2. USA would not be USA without the French, which I would call more than just "help". Do not remember figures, but large percentage at Yorktown were French troops, French navy kept the Brit navy out, most of the gunpowder etc was French made. Without the French, the British could have easily crushed the rebels. I am an American, btw, but credit needs to be given where credit is due.

    • Like 2
  3. "This is the ship that changed the course of human history," Clifford said.

    Without doubt, the world would have been totally different if Columbus hadn't discovered the part of the world that now wants to control the whole world.

    Ah...... The Euroweenies complaining because THEIR attempts to control the whole world didn't work out as planned. Can't wait to hear what they have to say when Chinese are calling the shots......

    • Like 1
  4. AA has the hallmarks of religion, at least in a Western sense. It doesn't matter what your higher power is, they say. Hmmm. Seems the idea is to get a mental sense in the participant that they are a "lower power". Similar to oiginal sin. No dogma, brainwashing? Try going to a meeting and saying "I drink too much alcohol, but I am not an alcoholic. Drinking is a behavior, not a disease". Or "I was an alcholic, but quit 20 years ago. I am cured. I am no longer an alcoholic". Heresy. And the chant "keep coming back: it works" but according to earlier post success rate now is 1%.

    And why the aversion to combining medicine with meetings? Religions don't like to adapt to anything that doesn't fit their "solution".

    According to last study done (1988 I think) AA has no higher rate of "curing" than any other program, including going cold turkey (5%).

    My view is it swapping one addiction for another. Fine if you want to delude yourself and pretend it isn't a religion, but in my opinion it is, and like almost all religions, is there to make happy slaves of those afraid of freedom and responsibility for their own lives and choices.

    • Like 1
  5. With all the chaos here, it is amazing anyone would want to come back in. Shooting selves in foot once more. And saying it is response to fake passports.... hmmm. Crack down on those people (no, they are probably Thais). Ah, make those folks who want to be here more than 30 days just go stay in some less xenophobic country like Cambodia! Make them spend their money there! That will teach them a lesson!

  6. A few weeks ago on baht bus in from Pattaya saw a couple of ladies riding. "Khazakstan?" I asked. "Yes". Nice conversation. A week later met a couple more. I asked if they spoke much English there: "Yes, we are educated people." Very nice, good English, not unfriendly. Knew right away not from Putinville. I would like to see more, and may even think about a trip to that country.

  7. Does the left hand (tourism authority) ever talk to the right (immigration) here? Admittedly both are sucking from the public teat, so have no experience with real world Thais who depend on those dollars from foreigners. Numbers are down significantly. Very brave of them to prevent people from coming back in and spending more money (?). A baht is a baht, and those whose livlihood depends on those baht don't care if from 'real" tourists or visa run tourists.

  8. Of course the photo was with a dead Taliban fighter. They are very shy while alive, and are loathe the be photographed with RAF types. OMG there is a war going on and we are killing the enemy? Stop the presses! I recall first Iraq war, watching for days, wondering "Where are the dead enemy?". Wasn't til Basra freeway wipe out that finally saw some of the effects of our superior firepower. War is hell. Let's have more shots of dead Taliban, please.

  9. If only the Russians would do the same.

    I live in Jomtien, which is usually swaggering with Russians, but they seem to have all packed up and headed for the new Crimean resorts. Really. Very quiet (maybe too quiet?). Anyone seen numbers in the drop from there? Might have to start printing adverts etc in English again. It is just that bad!

  10. I wonder how many of those tourists are defacto residents doing visa runs? Anyone know the impact of Hitler coming to power had on tourist business for Germany?

    Please review your history. Bringing Hitler into this discussion is tasteless and irrelevant. It also calls into question the sobriety of the post.

    My question about tourism under Hitler has to do with certain aspects of Suthep et al have a familiar ring, as many have pointed out. Some may prefer a stable one party system (which seems like what PDRC wants, since they won't take part in elections). Did tourism increase under Hitlers firm control compared to the somewhat chaotic situation earlier? FYI I rarely have a drink, and if tasteless bothers you, I suggest you limit your intake of TV. Part of the fun I reckon.

  11. "Just about everyone, including me, believes in psychic phenomena these days, right?" short answer: no. And just believing doesn't make it true or real. I do think that Thai people are raised to be more astute at reading non-verbal cues than farangs. In a society where context is more important than content (status of speaker more important than any statement from same determines if valid or not), seems woulld be useful skill in life's journey.

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