faranglaw

This might be of interest. The US used to have a good process that mandated alternative points of view on controversial issues. It died during the Reagan administration. A serious error in my view. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Fairness-Doctrine

The US used to have

For those who want to dive deeper into this rabbit hole, I have two recommendations: 1. Google Heather Cox Richardson. She is an American History professor who offers two one hour lectures weekly. One on current politics and how it has evolved from the America past, and a second lecture that explores a particular theme in US history, usually focused on the 19th Century, her specialty. Who knew, for example, that, in 1892, having lost his reelection bid, Republican President Benjamin Harrison proceeded to do everything he could to wreck the economy so his successor, Grover Cleveland, would be blamed. And it worked! The Democrats didn’t win another election for twenty years. (I warned you: rabbit hole) 2. Podcast: The New Abnormal, with Rick Wilson and Molly Jong-Fast. Fun profane banter about current politics by a Lincoln Project formerly highest level Republican operative now working for the Democrats, and a New York City left wing pundit. Lots of fun gossip about the Trump family crime syndicate, and interviews with interesting guests.

The purpose of this false accusation, that The Democrats have stolen the election, is not to overturn the results of this election. The idea is to establish a “stab in the back” theory, so that the next Fascist oriented politician, who will be smarter than DJT (Cotton, Cruz, Tucker Carlson), can use the conspiracy theory to win next time, or the time after that. They can then further unravel the democratic fabric and (re-)establish the (mostly White and very rich) oligarchy they think should run everything. Biden will have to be very strong to avoid leading an American Weimar Republic. I think he has been wildly underestimated and I have some hope he can pull it off. But there are, as we have seen, an enormous number of people who will believe this particular conspiracy theory, and, thanks to the NRA and the cowardly Republican Party, many of them have firearms. And of course they also have their very own sources of alternative reality news. Fox not crazy enough for ya? Welcome to Qanon, Newsmax, Parler. Not a great recipe for the future of my country of birth. Lucky me, having moved to Canada. But for the majority of my friends back home, American and world history does not provide much comfort just now.

The audience is young Thai girls. They like clean, gentle, rich boys. But I’m with you; I’d like to see a little more Isan poor boy action.

Schadenfreude: So unseeemly, so immature, so lacking in compassion. And so irresistible.

I don’t think so. All Biden has to do is say, “See? We should really take this seriously.” Most people decided a long time ago and the polls have not moved in six months. Trump might still win by theft, but that also seems a long shot.

Oh please God no...

Yes I read an article, maybe posted elsewhere on this blog, about a man from the Netherlands who did a visa run to his country and then faced a nightmare trying to get back to his Thai spouse and their children. The cost of quarantine, at $200/day, is daunting. If I could quarantine at our home in On Nut on arrival I would have no problem returning for my usual three months this winter. But under the current rules—no.

Thanks!

Hi all: I continue to enjoy reading everyone’s posts. I’m wondering if those of you residing in LOS can answer a couple of questions: 1. Will the new government proposal regarding same sex relationships apply at all to binational relationships? Will a foreign partner be recognized in some ways as equal to a foreign partner in a heterosexual marriage with a Thai national? 2. Regarding the quarantine requirement on entering Thailand, does anyone know where the quarantine facilities are, what they are like, and the cost? I understand farang would have to pay for their quarantine accommodations, but Thai nationals would not. I haven’t found answers to these questions on line. Neither has Dear Husband in his exploration of Thai language sources, although he did read that the food at the quarantine facilities was good! Thanks, faranglaw

Found it. Club Friday. Episode 2 what a tear jerker.

Present Perfect. I think.

or as we with wretched manners who hail from that wretchedest of countries sometimes say, “Other than that Mrs Lincoln, how was the play?”

But, but but...What about the one where the sweet boy is waiting at the airport with his homemade sign and the airline attendant he’s in love with doesn’t show up. Is that really the end? I’m still sad about it.

but...other than that...

Is the ride on MRT really that much longer than on BTS? You are probably well under 65, so this may not apply, but if you are over 65 you can ride on MRT for half price seniors’ fare. I have to use BTS to get home to On Nut, but I hate their card system as it doesn’t tell me how much is left on the card, and their noisy, repetitive announcements in that officious, abrasive female voice leaves me feeling homicidal. If I have a choice I will always take MRT.

We have filters on our taps. They seem to work nicely. I love Greta. She is our generation’s Jeremiah.

I think you are confusing two different things. The article is not quite clear, but it seems the Don Muang Line to Downtown Bangkok and on to Pattaya is not the same as the bullet train, which will serve the whole country from the Lao border town of Nong Khai through Udon and Korat down to Bangkok. At least, that’s my half informed understanding of it.

IMNSHO it would have been better if both of you had allowed Divine Madman’s thoughtful post be the last word. My thanks to DM for going a little deeper on this.

It seems there’s a new massage place on Suan Phlu, my favorite neighborhood. A young man, Bon, (บอล) I knew and liked from another venue is working there now. Has anyone tried it? I might go when I do my snowbird thing in bkk this winter. Advance reports welcome!

How did it come to this, that being born in a poor country, that country becomes a great big prison you are not allowed to leave? Under what ethical system is that really OK? I agree with the sign held up by a demonstrator here in Boston, demonstrating outside an ICE detention facility: “No one is illegal.” Why is it so difficult to say, “My choice of words was inappropriate; thanks for pointing it out.”